It is a beautiful, if
still warm and humid, evening here in Wainscott, and we wait for the
promised thunderstorms. After a day of writing for Sunday, chores
about the house, errands for tomorrow's parish party, welcoming two
house guests and wondering (with more than a touch of envy) how Sandi
and Kate are doing in the North Carolina mountains and Cashiers, I
had planned to settle back, munch on pizza, pour some wine and read
another couple of chapters of Never Look Back by my friend Richard
Thornburgh. This is a summer ritual for me, visiting in my mind and
through his pages the towns and villages en route to Rocomadour.
Yet I find myself back at
the keyboard lamenting the news that Mel Smith has died. “Who?”
I can hear some people ask. Mel was a British writer and actor who,
in addition to his already established talent in theatre, emerged as
a comic genius in 1979 in the BBC comedy Not the Nine O'clock News
(1979-1982.) And then many times again over the following forty
years. His biographical details are out there in all media for
people to read, but I offer a brief personal tribute and apology to
him.
As one who has always been
interested in media, scriptwriting and comedy, Mel stood out in ways
that are always apparent. Look back at the sketches of NotNON and
the later, long-running series Alas Smith and Jones (1984-1998) and
notice that he hardly ever smiles. Playing the sad clown to other
brilliant comedians (Griff Rhys Jones, Rowan Atkinson et al) he
performs in the tradition of Tony Hancock and Ronnie Barker, and his
varieties of character and costume echo those of Stanley Baxter, Dick
Emery and many others.
My note of apology stems
from my own comedic and satirical inheritance in 1985 when it was
determined that I take over as editor of the church-based and
orientated magazine Pharisaios. Listening to early tapes of Mel
Smith and crew performing I did indeed borrow themes, ideas and even
lines, translating them into church settings and genres. Not too
often , but in the last of the recorded Pharisaios albums one sketch
may be directly attributed to Mel. Even the accents required.
Requiescat
in pace, Mel.
I am deeply sorry. May
your genius find another home.
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