A rich social history

Press, 13 March 1987, Page 15

A rich social history

Ken Strongman

on television

What better measure that TVNZ has begun the meaty part of 1987 in its usual way? The Sunday evening squelch of culture has once again started to dominate that dead spot between the week-end and the week.

“Paradise Postponed” promises to be a very fine series, which is just as well since there are 11 parts. So far, it is faithful to the book, but manages to be funnier. John Mortimer himself is an enigma. He is a thoughtful radical, with the appearance and demeanour of a true blue reactionary. He is also fine proof that it is possible to be at the top of two professions in spite of looking like a bespectacled frog. He retains a wittily refreshing eagerness of spirit. For example, speaking in “The South Bank Show” of the development of his legal creer, he put it that “I took to murder, crime, obscenity; all the good things in life.” “Paradise Postponed” is one of those series which brings out reviewers in a rash of superlatives. It is hard to fault. The actors, the settings, the pace, and the unobstrusive, underplayed style are all first rate. The characters are almost larger than life, but stay credible through Mortimer’s fine eye for observation and welltuned ear for language.

The humour is subtle rather than uproarious, but works to good effect. Michael Hordern as the rector, Simeon Simcox, was masterful opening his front door dressed for amateur theatricals as a woman and finding a very puzzled couple wishing to discuss marriage. And the idea of Henry Simcox’s book “The Greasy Pole” giving offence to an eth-

nic minority in America was lovely. So far, the best sequence has been of Freddie Simcox asking in turn his father, brother and mother for a loan of 100 pounds. He was rejected in successively stylish ways, from his father’s suggestion of five pounds a week for six months and a lecture on morality, to his mother’s “You silly boy.”

Dr Salter is the best character, though, an earthy intelligent wit who can send up anything. Like Rumpole, he is probably what Mortimer himself would like to be, in some moods.

“Paradise Postponed” is good and rich enough to embrace some lovely vignettes which then buzz around the memory for some time. Annette Crosbie as Mrs Simcox was tremendous in describing something as “unutterably vulgar,” giving each syllable power enough to become a word in its own right. Even better was David

Threlfall as the incredibly lower-middle-class creepish Conservative M.P.-to-be, Leslie Titmuss, eating a cream scone, exactly as a conceited, supercilious wimp would. Though it is clearly very good, it is difficult to pin down “Paradise Postponed.” It is an amusing, very well drawn modern tale of manners. Yet it is a mystery and has more than a touch of social history about it. That it is all of these is a simultaneous strength and weakness. Perhaps the reason for this sort of complexity can be seen in Mortimer’s comment on “The South Bank Show” that he put into “Paradise Postponed” all of his thought concerning the recent developments of consciousness in Britain. “All” doesn’t leave much. “The South Bank Show,” by the way, continues to prove television of genuine depth. It was particularly useful to see this profile of John Mortimer early in the “Paradise” series. It was full of thought-provoking points, especially Mortimer’s idea of the role of a barrister being almost the antithesis of that of the writer.

Mind you, it is not all intellectual. There is the countinuing saga of Melvin Bragg’s adenoids to think about. He seems to be keeping them in check these days by walking along interviewing his guests out in the open. Poor old Mortimer looked as though he couldn’t get back into his study, or the pub, soon enough. Tailpiece. It was rather nice to hear Robin Kora announce “The nine o’clockish news headlines.” Just as long as Angela d’Audney does not start saying “It’s sort of Tuesday, or something.”