When Frederic Was A Little Lad

This is a selection from a DVD of the Broadway theater archive from 1980. It was recorded at the New York Shakespeare Festival. Patricia Routledge played Ruth

[@johnprovince5304]

Every Patricia Routledge performance is a class in excellent. Watch how she moves. Comedic brilliance worthy of Chaplin.

[@PaulMcElveen]

I was born in the late fall of 1978! This is Brilliant!

[@bethmc717]

I love this woman ,Shes just extremely talented

[@alisonblackwell988]

Her version of Climb every mountain is superb. I saw her in Carousel she sang You'll never walk alone to a standing ovation

[@HGM1138]

Ah! The Bucket woman! LOL! I love Patricia Routledge!

[@lostindreams3]

Some people are just stars.... plain and simple. Patricia is just that!

[@mightisright]

I love this production.

[@shawlaw2002]

I am called back for this role in a local production and I am thrilled to know that Hyacinth once played this role (and well!). I love her =)

[@SavageGreywolf]

She'll sing at me. She always sings at me.

[@MisterCrolla]

I adore Patricia Routledge as Ruth!

[@timtonruben359]

I think this is my favourite rendition of this song.

[@MissLiterary]

I LOVE how she did this song! Awesome

[@treesny]

I saw this production in Central Park, and amid all the high spirits and scene-stealing by a savvy bunch of actors, it was Patricia Routledge who made the show for me. What's really interesting seeing these clips now is how she takes into account that Sullivan's score has been adapted in the direction of musical comedy (crossed with music hall?) and adjusts her style of vocal delivery accordingly, even using a bit of "Sprechstimme" here and there. As a classically trained singer, she was perfectly capable of singing this music "straight," as evidenced in her BBC G&S radio broadcasts of Iolanthe (title role) and Ruddigore (Margaret). What a wonderful artist!

[@jasonjoyce7835]

G&S was never high opera. When they first staged it, it was a comic operetta. People can rightfully complain about the change in instrumentation, but I firmly believe this is closer to what audiences experienced back then than the stodgy way D’Oyly Carte presents it.

[@treesny]

It's also much closer to the spirit of W.S. Gilbert's "Bab Ballads."@@jasonjoyce7835

[@tjinphilly]

To the person wondering why Ms. Routledge didn't do the B'way production. She had prior contract commitments in the UK. She was also on a temporary Equity work visa, which is rather common with foreign actors. She was replaced with Estelle Parsons (Rosanne Barr's mom on the TV show Rosanne) for the B'way opening. Eventually Kaye Ballard would also do the role before closing.

[@TheMissHarukitty]

Used this song to audition for Mrs.Lovett, and now using it to audition for Madame Thenardier! Hasnt failed me yet =,,)

[@goombajoe715]

"Lady of the house" singing!!!

[@PaulMcElveen]

Excellent Video!

[@TheDesmo54]

The bouquet residence the lady of the house speaking

[@cheerleader5293]

I'm singing this song for my audition for Pirates this Saturday!

[@MeganBieber29]

we are doing this play in my choir, and I play Ruth!! It's so fun!

[@noa4691]

I was also cast as Ruth!!! So exciting!

[@chessparrotify]

the nurse should get a bouquet!

[@joleyland4362]

When Frederic was a little lad He proved so brave and daring, His father thought he'd 'prentice him To some career seafaring. I was, alas! his nurserymaid, And so it fell to my lot To take and bind the promising boy Apprentice to a pilot. A life not bad for a hardy lad, Though surely not a high lot, Though I'm a nurse, you might do worse Than make your boy a pilot. I was a stupid nurserymaid, On breakers always steering, And I did not catch the word aright, Through being hard of hearing; Mistaking my instructions, Which within my brain did gyrate, I took and bound this promising boy Apprentice to a pirate. A sad mistake it was to make And doom him to a vile lot. I bound him to a pirate ? you! Instead of to a pilot. I soon found out, beyond all doubt, The scope of this disaster, But I hadn't the face to return to my place, And break it to my master. A nurserymaid is not afraid Of what you people call work, So I made up my mind to go as a kind Of piratical maid-of-all-work. And that is how you find me now, A member of this shy lot, Which you wouldn't have found, had he been bound Apprentice to a pilot.

[@antoniod]

A nice Broadway comeback for Routledge-She'd given up on Broadway bound shows after "Say Hello to Harvey" in Canada.

[@Meganseyes11]

I am playing Ruth in my school play!

[@AkiraChan24]

And shes much better than they thought xD

[@evukelectricvehicles]

One of the very best Musical Productions ever - but this Broadway recording urgently needs to be *digitally remastered* to do it justice ! Although the later 1983 movie version of this Broadway smash-hit - also starring Kevin Kline, Rex Smith, George Rose and Tony Zito - is by contrast sparkingly crystal clear - the stage version is far more engaging and alive in front of a packed house/live audience. And sadly two songs were cut from the movie version(starring Angela Lansbury) - and worse still the Policeman's Lot(is not a happy one..) song was cut very short in the movie version(which was filmed incidentally entirely at Shepperton Studios in Britain). So please Broadway - digitally remaster this legendary, long-running(787 performances) Broadway hit - the magically talented cast, crew, directors, choreographers and audiences deserve it for all time. Paul G

[@AkiraChan24]

I guess Elizabeth's brother is kicking himself xD

[@adventureswithaurora]

Elizabeth? XD

[@misharyutubbee]

...it's Boo-KAY!

[@Gorboduc]

Emmett was missing out.

[@alwaysnew189]

Suvereign. Power. Voice. Genuine singing. Drama. Appearance. American version , e.g. would be Madeline Kahn. They dont make like these any more. Respect! 🎭🌹💙🎶🍀❤️🌻🎉🌸😂😊🙏

[@21Filmfreak]

Please let me sing that good at my audition!

[@AkiraChan24]

*spills coffee* lol

[@kateycelli4618]

anybody have a good audition song for the part ruth? i cant fin any good ones...