Word: duking
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Dates: during 1980-1989
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With Edward Duke...
...this drama Edward Duke has taken a character created by early 20th century writer P.G. Wodehouse and put him into a series of storytelling situations. The stories however, never cease to delight and amuse because Duke keeps pulling a number of comic, eccentric characters...
What is amazing about this show is the wide range of characters into whom Duke ably transforms himself. Duke's expert manipulation of body language, speech patterns and facial expressions allow the audience to follow easily as he moves from one character to the next. And whether he plays Jeeves with his impeccable British accent and completely upright posture, or whether slouching and guffawing as Wooster or whether he carelessly holds a cigarette while gesticulating wildly as Florence, Duke always manages to make the audience forget that he is only one man playing a variety of roles...
Although there are several characters in the show, Jeeves, or Wooster, is always the narrator. The humor that Duke uses in portraying them is definitely the glue that keeps this show together. Both Jeeves'--and Wooster's--running commentary on the present action keeps the audience roaring...
Subtle sarcasm pervades Duke's performance, and the success of this technique is probably due in large part to Gillian Lynne's direction. in the middle of Act I Jeeves begins telling his part of the story by saying "Employers are like horses--both need to be managed." The timing of the line, combined with the slight smirk that Duke wears on his face as he delivers it, gives credence to the great chemistry that Lynne and Duke share...