“Pongo had assured me … this birthday binge … was to be on a scale calculated to stagger humanity.” (Right Ho Jeeves, PG Wodehouse)
Last night we band of brothers (and sisters) met to celebrate PG Wodehouse’s 140th birthday, nearly; he was born on 15th October 1881. This morning there are gentlemen in England now a-bed feeling delicate; a-quiver at any loud noise like a pin dropping. Many will blame the port. Port always takes the rap although it is almost blameless, served in small glasses just to round off the evening. My delicate condition can be traced like Methuselah’s family in Genesis. The champagne begat a crisp white that begat a moreish red that begat port.
We were at the Honourable Society of Gray’s Inn; about 140 of us. The highlight was an after dinner entertainment performed by Alexander Armstrong (President, PG Wodehouse Society UK), James Naughtie, Janie Dee, Andrew Bishop (editor, Wooster Sauce) and Plum’s step great grandchildren, Hal and Lara Cazalet. HRH the Duke of Kent also had a small but very funny role that was well received.
I was thrilled to meet Janie Dee. I’d last seen her singing in the rain at Opera Holland Park in August last year. Last night she sang and danced Plum’s Cleopatra number. To refresh your memory here’s how it starts and finishes.
In days of old beside the Nile
A famous queen there dwelt.
Her clothes were few,
But full of style.
Her figure slim and svelte.
Marc Antony admitted,
That what first made him skid,
Was the wibbly, wobbly, wiggly dance,
That Cleopatterer did.
Slim and svelte herself, she shimmered across the stage exploiting every nuance in the lyrics. I hope she can be persuaded back for future dinners. The finale was Anything Goes with the diners joining in the choruses. Tony Ring was, as usual, Master of the Revels. At every dinner he sets the bar a bit higher but he will be pushed to improve on last night’s decidedly fruity function.
Ah, a lovely tribute to a great evening! So enjoyable all around. We Plummies are quite a jolly lot, aren’t we?
A brilliant summary of a sparkling evening.
Janie Dee was superb as were all the other performers. I think we would all wholeheartedly support calls for her return and also for James Naughtie to appear at future functions, in addition of course to Alexander Armstrong, Hal Cazalet, Lara Cazalet, and Andrew Bishop, Editor of Wooster Sauce.
Surely it was the charcoal in the canapes?