Performing for the dull-witted

Press, 17 April 1978, Page 13

Performing for the dull-witted

By

R. T. BRITTENDEN

John Wayne and Fergie. McCormick, in their particular spheres of activity, have' established splendid reputa-1 tions for durability, and asj the world loves a trier, it I tnay be that Patrick Cargill} will ultimately enjoy similar ‘ renown; there seems to be a d tinct possibility that at! the turn of the century he yrill still be on television i screens, playing ageing rouei roles. It would be unkind to} suggest that his birth was a bedroom farce, but he seems; to have been brought up in] an atmosphere of marital! misunderstandings, and nurtured on the double en-l tendre. ! He was back on South Pa-1 tific Television on Friday! evening, as pink and pow-! dered and precious as ever, delivering his lines in “The Many Wives of Patrick”; with an almost Victorian ■ elegance, and giving the im-| pression that he was performing in a small i theatre to a somewhat dull-' witted audience. "The Many Wives of Pat-; rick" total six, but there any resemblance between Cargill’s Patrick Woodford and Henry VIII ended. Bluff King Hal knew what he was about. Patrick is a muddler. Mercifully, there were only two of the wives on screen in this first episode. Three would have been a crowd. The most amusing moments of this inconsequential comedy came from Patrick’s filing system, in which he recorded the likes and dislikes of his > 1

I various women, and the I large operations room wall charts on which were reI corded all the birthdays land anniversaries of the wives, their children, their | in-laws. The divorce dates I were there too. Beyond that, there was .not much to offer. The sets . breathed sophistication, the i colour was pleasing and ■ unobtrusive, but there were not many good lines. To be fair to Patrick, he was not selfish. He shared ‘ them generously with Ursula I Howells, who played the wife he married in 1945, and I with Elizabeth Counsell, his |bride of 1974. But all by I himself, he set what must surely be a record — the [longest double-take in tele- ! vision history. “Father, Dear Father,” which gave Cargill viewers the consolation of two attractive daughters, was no great shakes as a comedy series. “The Many Wives of j Patrick” is not likely to win , a much higher rating or regard. And so far, tse i daughters have not been forthcoming. But there will be some. The Patrick Woodford “family tree” put out by S.P.T.V. in its publicity publication has a lot of names on it. and unhappily, there seems little likelihood that they will not all appear, at some stage or another. The outlook is sombre First impressions may be dangerous ones, but “The Many Wives of Patrick” may be good news, for those retailers who have extended hours on Friday evenings.