I’ve mentioned before that I continually enjoy delving into the treasures found in the Archives at Letter Live. Though the choice of readers can be a bit odd at times the talent that brings to life missives from the famous, the infamous and the not-at-all famous is remarkable.
I’m only familiar with Sanjeev Bhaskar from clips of his two series on British Television but his TV, film and stage appearances have been many and varied. Surprisingly in this excerpt he takes on the persona of the Little General – Old Bonie. But more surprisingly, and very much against type, the silent role of his great love Josephine is taken by the irrepressible Mariam Margolyes. I suggest that you go to YouTube and full screen with this and watch her expressions – without speaking a word she steals the entire reading.
The word for February 28th is:
Type-cast /ˈtīpˌkast/: [verb]
1.1 Assign (an actor or actress) repeatedly to the same type of role, as a result of the appropriateness of their appearance or previous success in such roles.
1.2 Represent or regard (a person or their role) as a stereotype.
First known use as it applies to performers 1937; type as in the sense of dates from 1847 and is perhaps a deliberate pun on the verbal phrase in the printing sense “to found types in molds.”
