HSB Posted August 23, 2016 Share Posted August 23, 2016 I was saddened to read of the death of Lord Rix at the weekend. Back in the Fifties and Sixties a Brian Rix Whitehall farce on the TV was something greatly to be looked forward to and I can remember being in absolute stitches with laughter watching them. I was also fortunate in being able to see him performing live in London a couple of times. It was a great loss to comedy when he decided to give it up to become the head of Mencap. His initial involvement with Mencap came about as a result of having a daughter who had what is now known as 'learning difficulties'. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Leander Posted August 23, 2016 Share Posted August 23, 2016 His initial involvement with Mencap came about as a result of having a daughter who had what is now known as 'learning difficulties'. Cerebral palsy. https://www.theguardian.com/stage/2016/aug/21/lord-rix-obituary Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
joppyuk1 Posted August 23, 2016 Share Posted August 23, 2016 I,too, can remember the hilarious farces he starred in on TV in the 50s and 60s, with all the confusion and misunderstanding becoming resolved in the last minutes. Unfortunately nothing like this seems to appear these days, though there are a few theatre shows that still carry on the tradition. RIP. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
HSB Posted August 23, 2016 Author Share Posted August 23, 2016 Cerebral palsy. https://www.theguardian.com/stage/2016/aug/21/lord-rix-obituary No, Down's Syndrome. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
bertiedog Posted August 23, 2016 Share Posted August 23, 2016 I always found Brian Rix to be a little disappointing in his films, he was one of the greats on stage though, he needed an audience to get the best from his style of goofy idiocy in the popular Whitehall farces. I saw one of the original Whitehall theatre productions, and all the shows when he moved the company to the Garrick Theatre in Tottenham Court Rd, just a few doors from where I worked at the time. In the intervals you usually met the stars like Leo Franklyn in the nearby bars, and by intervals I mean when they were not on stage!! I also saw the revival of the old favourite of the Whitehall farces, Dry Rot, but without Brain Rix in his old part, but taking Leo Franklyns part, with Derek Griffiths in the lead. It was early in the limited run, and a great performance all round, with a hilarious break down in a plot scene where quite genuinely Brian Rix said his old lines by accident and Griffiths broke down completely, with them all rolling around the set in mirth. They mugged along for a few moments and then Rix stopped the show and apologised to the audience, who were cheering any way at the antics on stage.They could not keep a straight face at all, but somehow the show went on. At the end he came forward, smiled, and said it was all due to his inexperience!!!! It got the biggest round of applause I ever heard in the Garrick. Great evenings entertainment, with a very genial actor, who cared deeply about others problems in life, sadly missed. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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