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David Jason - King of Comedy?Dateline: 22nd May, 1997The Royal Television Society has given its Best Actor award to David Jason and the Best Comedy award to Only Fools and Horses. Now not only have Jason and the show gained every possible award for TV comedy, they hold the record for the highest Christmas viewing figures ever - for the 1996 Christmas Special. And how well-deserved that award is! Notice that it's the Best Actor award which Jason received, not best comedy performer, or best comedian, or anything in that line, and this, I believe, is only right, for he is a fine actor. He may be best known for his comedy performances - and it's not just Del-Boy: remember Grenville in Open All Hours? - but his rare "straight" appearances have been just as successful. Many expressed surprise when, during the first series of Frost, they saw his talents as an actor, but they should not have been. His portrait of the Head Porter in Porterhouse Blue was, I believe, one of the reasons for the amazing success of that series. Looking back at the high spots of his career, we see a very versatile actor. He held his own with Ronnie Barker in Open All Hours, no mean feat alongside a man who is universally recognised as being a genius of comedy. Next came a totally different part in Porterhouse Blue. Then Del-Boy, that fabulous creation: can anyone ever forget that beautiful moment when, in Del-Boy's Yuppy phase, he leaned nonchalantly against the bar, missed, and did a perfect prat-fall, vanishing behind the counter? That was truly one of the classic moments of British comedy, only equalled, to my mind, by the pantomime horse on horseback scene fromHi-Di-Hi, Kenneth Williams' Julius Caesar rushing around crying, "Infamy! Infamy! They've all got it in for me!" or Julie Walters' senile waitress. After this (I think! - I've got a lousy head for chronology), was the "perfick" Pa Larkin and then yet another contrast: DI Jack Frost, the caring copper. Four completely different characters, each sustained over a long period, and each firing the public's imagination. I had the pleasure of working with David Jason in panto about twenty years ago, when he played Buttons at the Theatre Royal, Newcastle. I watched him throughout rehearsals, working himself into the part and into the art of pantomime (for it was his first ever panto), and he was worried sick. So much so, in fact, that on opening night he was rushing backwards and forwards to the loo as the moment for curtain-up approached. He was, he told me, scared stiff. Then the curtain went up, his entrance arrived, and from the moment he stepped out of the wings he was brilliant - and a smash-hit with every audience from then on! Since then I've watched his career with more than usual interest. I'd worked with many a famous name before, and with many since, but none so impressed me with their determination, professionalism and modesty. I'm delighted he has been recognised in this way. Well done, David! I know - if you read this, which is probably highly unlikely! - that you won't remember me (after all, who remembers a theatre photographer from more than twenty years ago?), but, having watched your panto debut, I feel a sort of proprietry interest in your career, and I couldn't be more delighted! Thanks for all the pleasure you've given us over the years. Long may it continue! Articles Indices: |
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