What’s Tomorrow’s Surprise?

May 24, 1993

A strong motive for old men to keep on living is a zesty anticipation of what tomorrow’s surprise will be. This came home to me last night when I viewed a video borrowed from the Lakeland Public Library, Shakespeare’s A MIDSUMMER’S NIGHT DREAM.

Guess what? Benny Hill acting in Shakespeare!!! To me that is comparable to seeing an old news film of Harpo Marx conducting a press conference; or Muhammad Ali announcing that he really wasn’t the greatest; or Pat Robertson stating on his “Christian” network that he truly believed in the separation of church and state.

The late Benny Hill became famous in the U.S. in the 80s with his Thames Television shows that never failed to feature his bawdy jokes, leering eyes on nubile, bosomy females, speeded-up films of his chasing such ladies or being chased by same; rudeness, vulgarity and irreverence being the common theme of all his shows. I have been told that every man enjoyed (sometimes secretly) Benny Hill and every woman detested him.

Be that as it may, in A MIDSUMMER’S NIGHT DREAM, there was Benny Hill playing Bottom. There were the leering eyes, the eccentric body movements, the whole shtick. This BBC version was made in the 60s, when Benny Hill was largely unknown here, but probably a well-known comedian in the U.K. So the casting might have been a publicity gimmick.

However, one cannot assert that he was miscast as Bottom, given the nature of that role. The only other Shakespearean part I can envision for Benny Hill is Falstaff – the Falstaff of THE MERRY WIVES OF WINDSOR, not of HENRY IV.

Therefore, if today is dull and boring, don’t give up. Tomorrow may reveal an exciting surprise. If Benny Hill played Shakespeare, astonishing events may await us in this busy, dizzy world!