Glynis Johns: herzapoppin' (off this mortal coil)

• 05.01.2024 07:06 UTC+00:00
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Giving plenty of time to plan the Oscars' in memoriam tribute, Glynis Johns—best known as the suffragette mother of Mary Poppins' two charges—has gone to tread the celestial boards at the ripe old age of 100. Although she'd collected a few trinkets and baubles related to her profession, she never received recognition from His Majesty's Government.

Ahead of her 100th birthday in October, Labour MP Chris Bryant had called for Johns to be made a dame. He tweeted on Thursday: "So sad. One of the great British actors who should have been given a damehood."

Andre Rhoden-Paul, BBC News

But why? For being an actress who achieved what of note, other than services to kite flying? Old age?

There seems to be this expectation that British celebrities should be honoured for simply doing their job and not dying too soon. And not with a trifling MBE or BEM either, but a full-on Sir, your Lordship, or your Ladyship. As if a telegram wasn't enough for these frivolous mummers. Pah!

Clown time

Other than her appearance in Mary Poppins, Johns was best known for establishing the role of Desirée in Stephen Sondheim's A Little Night Music on Broadway. And it was her for whom he wrote Send in the Clowns.

Sondheim has, of course, a distinguished pedigree in musical theatre, while I simply do not. Nevertheless, that's not going to stop me picking out a minor problem in his lyrics to that standard. The final two stanzas end:

But where are the clowns Send in the clowns Don't bother they're here

…and…

Where are the clowns There ought to be clowns Well, maybe next year

In my opinion, those final lines at least would be better swapped. That way, Desirée closes by acknowledging she and Fredrik are fools; the clowns have already been sent in.