Dame Margaret Rutherford
Always delightfully funny, Dame Rutherford was great as Madame Arcati. A veteran of dark English comedy, seemed to always play the role of an eccentric character,soon became the unflappable Miss Marple.
shareMargaret Rutherford was brilliant as Madame Arcati. Two other actresses who have played the role are Hattie Jacques and Mildred Natwick. I would like to have seen what they made of Madame Arcati. But I don't suppose they would have beaten Dame Margaret for sheer eccentricity.
shareThe last person to play it in a London revival was Penelope Keith. I would love to have seen her take on it.
Let Zygons Be Zygons.
Penelope Keith's take would really have been interesting as I would say that is not her usual type of role. That's the trouble with stage productions. There is no record left to examine.
shareBeatrice Lillie played Mme. Arcati in the 1964 musical version on Broadway, titled "High Spirits." She was quirky and funny and sang several songs, including one of my favorites, "Something Is Coming to Tea."
The cast also included Edward Woodward as Charles, Tammy Grimes as Elvira, Louise Troy as Ruth.
I would loved to have seen Beatrice Lillie do Madame Arcati. She was absolutely brilliant in 'Thoroughly Modern Millie.' Her performance was the best thing about that movie. It's a pity that she did so few films.
shareTO LIBRALOG: I can certainly picture in my mind a sterling performance by Hattie Jacques, but I don't think I would cast Mildred Natwick for the role. Natwick is not imposing enough; she seems too genteel.
Hattie, on the other hand, could have given Dame Margaret a run for her money. She had the physique to match Dame Margaret and could go into a huff with equal vehemence. When she raised an eyebrow and glared at an opponent, she could incinerate him at 20 paces.
Am sorry Hattie's not around anymore. She died in 1980 at age 58.
I could see Hattie Jacques as possibly even more robust than Margaret Rutherford in the role. I feel Mildred Natwick would have been a vague and dreamy Madame Arcati. If you see 'The Enchanted Cottage' anytime that is the type of performance you probably would have got from her. She is the housekeeper who seems psychically attuned to the cottage in that film.
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