8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Not what it seems, but worth it., June 20, 2010
This review is from: It's Bouquet--Not Bucket! (Hardcover)
I found this to be a very interesting behind-the-scenes book with regards to the production itself and less so about the actors. Harold Snoad writes about the difficulties of getting this show on the air, whether it was problems with the BBC or location shooting or, most often, problems with Roy Clarke and his apparent indifference to his own work. I never felt that Snoad was tooting his own horn when he discussed all the things he had to change or do himself at the last minute in order to get the show on the road, which turns out to be quite a lot. On the contrary, many of the bits which he wrote himself are my favorite moments in the series. I also found it interesting that both he and Patricia Routledge had problems with some of the repetetive story lines Roy Clarke turned in. As a viewer it was an affirmation to learn that my least favorite episodes are the ones Ms. Routledge & Mr. Snoad also had problems with.
I found the stories about the cast to be somewhat lacking. Many of the anecdotes Snoad writes about are simply transcripts of the outtakes on the DVDs so there is nothing new revealed about cast interactions. Granted, this book is coming out fifteen years after the last series aired (and twenty since the first) so I can understand memories being somewhat fuzzy, but surely there must have been something more. He paints a picture of Patricia Routledge which seems rather cautious. She comes across as rather cold towards co-workers and it does make the reader want to hear her side of the story. Mr. Snoad is always respectful, however, when writing about Ms. Routledge.
I was looking for more fun and trivia about the cast than is provided here, but I found this to be a very entertaining and informative book about how a series is produced in the UK and I think it's worth purchasing if you're a KUA fan.
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5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
A must-have for all KUA fans, September 10, 2010
This review is from: It's Bouquet--Not Bucket! (Hardcover)
This is a wonderful book for all fans of Keeping Up Appearances, one of the funniest Britcoms to grace the small screen in more than 60 countries, with a particularly large following in the U.S.A. Series producer/director Harold Snoad reveals how the program came to be, how episodes were filmed, and what all went on behind the scenes, including a number of cast and crew shenanigans, which is a real treat.
Mr. Snoad describes in detail his difficult relationship with series creator/writer Roy Clarke, though it seemed to improve a bit toward the end of the series' run. Interestingly, Snoad points out script alterations he himself implemented, changes I agree helped make KUA episodes funnier, more realistic, true to character, and contain less repetitive plots. Snoad's contributions to the original scripts were such an improvement, and oftentimes quite numerous, that he probably should have been billed as a series co-writer as well.
Snoad also describes his relationships with KUA cast members, especially that with leading actress Patricia Routledge, which was friendly and professional for the most part, but not exactly chummy and close. It seems Mr. Snoad had much warmer relationships with other members of the cast; nevertheless, he speaks highly of Ms. Routledge's talent and is respectful toward her throughout the book.
This book also contains the title, cast list, and plot synopsis of each episode, including the four Christmas specials. Additionally, there are a number of interesting behind-the-scenes photos. Although in black and white, they will most certainly catch your eye and captivate you. I also enjoyed the author's thoughts toward the end of the book, wherein he laments the end of great situation comedy as well as Patricia Routledge's reluctance to associate with the series, including her unexplained absence at actress Mary Millar's funeral service in 1998.
Although the book is a quick and easy read, especially for those who are familiar with British English, I did catch more than a few typos. It is also a bit pricey, but this is understandable due to it being both a hardcover and an import. However, this in no way should deter a KUA fan from purchasing this product, which is well written, well organized, and most intriguing. And with "It's Bouquet - Not Bucket!" for a title, how can one go wrong? The title is perfect, wouldn't you agree? No doubt, Mrs. Bucket ... uh, Bouquet ... would.
Many thanks, Harold Snoad, for all your hard work to make Keeping Up Appearances the terrific comedy it is - and for giving us fans the perfect present.
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4 of 6 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Revealing Mrs. Bouquet, April 30, 2010
This review is from: It's Bouquet--Not Bucket! (Hardcover)
Fantastic behind the scenes. Information on my fave BBC comedy. What the cast members were like, how the shows were staged, it's a must-have for true KUA fans!
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