An Introduction To...Dinner For One

'Dinner for One' is something of a unique anomaly, a forgotten piece of British comedy that has taken root and become an integral part of European culture. Since its first screening on German television in 1964, the 18-minute black and white sketch has been shown every New Year's Eve, spreading outward as a tradition to Switzerland, Finland, Sweden, Denmark and Norway.
And while the actors and dialogue are English, it remains unknown in the UK, having never been screened on British television. The basic set-up is that every year Miss Sophie (May Warden) celebrates her birthday by enjoying a meal with four of her closest friends - Sir Toby, Admiralvon Schneider, Mr Pommeroy and Mr Winterbottom. Unfortunately, since these gentlemen have all passed away many years before, her butler, James (Freddie Frinton) has to impersonate each of these guests. At the beginning of every course he asks: "Same procedure as last year, Miss Sophie?" and always receives the reply: "Same procedure as every year, James." The comedy comes from the toasts that accompany every course. As James must drink every guest's drinks in turn, what begins as a very formal meal slowly degenerates, with James going from reserved servitude to staggering fool with Miss Sophie seemingly unaware of her butler's inebriated condition. Finally the sketch draws to a close with a surprisingly suggestive final punch line.The sketch was first performed in 1948. It was only later that Freddie Frinton began performing it around England, with the role of Miss Sophie being played by a young actress called Audrey Maye - who's mother, May Warden later took over the part. The filming for German television came about after a German entertainer, Peter Frankenfeld and a friend, saw a performance in Blackpool in 1963. Afterwards, they managed to persuade Frinton and Warden to come to Germany although Frinton was not all that keen. Because of this he refused to perform the sketch in German, requiring a German announcer to introduce the sketch. Unfortunately, 'Dinner for One' was Freddie Frinton's only success, and he died at an early age, passing away just three weeks before filming a colour version of the sketch. So why has it endured for so long? As Mr Bean's worldwide popularity has demonstrated, physical comedy is appreciated universally. And 'Dinner for One' is very physical, with James tripping over, staggering around and generally attempting the most unorthodox methods of dinner service. Key to its success is Frinton's performance in what essentially is a one-man performance. His comic timing is spot-on and it's a marvel to watch. He also convincingly looks and plays a doddering old man; so much so that it's hard to believe he was only 35 years old when filming took place. It's a performance that has stood the test of time,demonstrated by the fact that while various remakes have been created over the years, the original's popularity remains undimmed, with 10+ screenings every New Years Eve. It's a part of people's lives, expected every year the same way the Queen's speech is here. Personally, I'd have to say that watching 'Dinner for One' would be the better option. Who say's German's don't have a sense of humour?
Author: Gareth Hacking

Manchester iJourno group