One of the best television programs that I have watched recently has been the 1982 BBC drama 'A Woman of No Importance'. This was the first television monologue by Alan Bennett and stared Patricia Routledge who is well known for playing Mrs Bucket in 'Keeping Up Appearances'. Her role was entirely different to the one most people are used to seeing Routledge play on television. Instead of being an extrovert, bossy and over dramatic character she plays Miss Schofield, a lonely old woman with a desperate need for order and routine within her life. This piece of television was very different from most programs that I would normally watch as it only featured a single character delivering an ongoing monologue, as opposed to the typical conversations taking place between several characters within a normal TV program. 'A Woman of No Importance' seemed to break most of the rules established within television, so much so that it appeared more similar in style to a play that you would watch in the theatre rather than something on TV. This is due to the fact that the fourth wall seems to be broken down several times throughout the piece. Sometimes the character of Miss Schofield talks directly to the audience, and occasionally she will stare directly into the camera, thus making the audience feel as though they are in the same room as the character and she is talking directly to them.
What makes this piece of television stand out from most other programs is the fact that within this program nothing actually happens. In most TV programs a lot of action takes place, you witness characters moving around, talking to other people and changing locations. However within 'A Woman of No Importance' everything is described to the audience after it has happened instead of letting the audience actually witness the action take place. The main storyline within the program is Miss Schofield and an ongoing illness that she develops. At first she is shown in her own home taking about her life and her job as an office worker, it is also made clear that she idolizes her boss Mr Skidmore. The second time we see the protagonist she is still in her own home although she does not look quite as healthy, she is talking about a stomach pain and her visit to the doctors. The use of language within her ongoing monologue is particularly interesting, she goes into incredible detail, describing everything from the decoration of the room, to her doctors appearance, to the flavor of biscuits she was offered. I find it very impressive that even though subjects that would normally appear mundane are delivered in a way that makes them, and the character talking about them, appear interesting and engaging. Miss Schofield later talks about how she has to be admitted to hospital for treatment. The next scene then shows her in a hospital bed before the operation, she is chatting away and talking about her doctor, Mr Penry-Jones who seems to be replacing her boss in the role of her number one idol.
From here on however the piece develops a much darker tone. Miss Schofield seems to be finding it hard staying in the hospital, she describes her daily rituals and routines. This helps the audience to see that she is not a totally mentally stable person and as they program progresses you see her mental agility decreasing along with her health. She is shown to repeat her self within sentences and she keeps on murmuring the phrase "Oh we did laugh" at first this appeared to be quite a typical characteristic among older people, but by the end of the piece this sentence appears to be almost haunting.
The make-up within this program was used very well as you could clearly see the character growing sicker and more frail with every scene that past. I also feel that Patricia Routledge is a really wonderful actor, I did not realize that she had the capabilities to act in a dramatic role so well as I am so used to seeing her in a comedic role. I dont think that this piece of television would have been so good if another actor was used, she made the character appear realistic even though the way she was portraying her emotions was not in a typical style found in everyday life. I discovered that when rehearsing Patricia Routledge had to sit only a matter of inches away from the director, this was so she would get comfortable when the camera was so close to her face on set. I think that the close-ups on her character really help to capture her emotions and in the end, the inner turmoil going on inside her.
I was really surprised with the quality of this program and i thoroughly enjoyed watching it. Although it did not end on a positive note, I think it was still very effective. I also think that the fact that this program was shown on BBC4 and would possibly only appeal to a small audience is the reason why the writer felt it did not need to finish with a happy ending. Maybe if this were aimed at a different or more broad audience then the ending would have been different. However I think that 'A Woman of No Importance' is worth watching.
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