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Synopsis

Barbara Parker is a beauty queen from Blackpool who wants more from life; she wants to be in comedy. Unfortunately, this is 1960s London, and while things are “swinging,” some things haven’t quite changed. Pretty women are not supposed to be funny, and the men are still calling the shots. She gets herself an agent who christens her “Sophie Straw,” and she fights her way to success on the sitcom Jim and Barbara. The show is based on the novel Funny Girl by Nick Hornby.

Review

I have always enjoyed the variety of British programming on PBS, and this was no exception. At first, I couldn’t decide if it fit more in the comedy or drama genre, but I think it was a bit of both, with an emphasis on drama. There are plenty of groovy clothes and hairstyles. The music features performers like Petula Clark, Brenda Lee, The Yardbirds, the Kinks, Cass Eliot and more.

The series opens with Barbara winning the local Miss Blackpool contest, looking around and deciding there has to be more to life than this. She heads out to 1960s London, a city in which the times were changing, though not quite fast enough for everyone. She has a real knack for comedy, and if Lucille Ball could do it, so could she!

We follow her from a dead-end department store job, where the goal was to date one of the rich customers, then to a short-lived career as an “exotic” dancer, and finally to success on TV. It isn’t an easy journey, and there are a number of bumps along the way. Because she is gorgeous, no one really thinks she can do it. And that means her success is dependent on a man.

Along the way, we meet “Clive Richardson” her on-air husband and off-air boyfriend; producer Dennis Mahindra, the only Asian man working on the show; Bill Gardiner, a gay man comfortable about his sexuality; and Tony Holmes, a married man who isn’t so sure about his. We also meet her two friends: Marjorie, who she meets at the department store and ends up living with, and Diane, a black up-and-coming reporter fighting her own battles with prejudice.

This was an era when sexuality, gender roles and racial discrimination were being challenged. Homosexuality was still illegal in the UK, but the “times were a-changing.” Baby steps forward, and sometimes, a step taken back. Like when the Pakistani guest actor on Jim and Barbara is replaced by a non-Asian comedian, Spike Milligan, who plays the role offensively stereotypically. This incident is made worse when you understand that this is based on a real-life show Curry and Chips. This really set my teeth on edge. But I guess some things don’t change overnight.

The acting in Funny Woman is great, especially Gemma Arterton as Barbara. I was unfamiliar with her until this role, but she is a well-known English actor and producer. She imbued that character with plenty of independence, guts and vulnerability. Arsher Ali, who plays Dennis, portrays a man so married to his work that his actual marriage is imploding. Tom Bateman, who I have seen before in the recent Poirot movies, among other things, was unrecognizable as Clive, as was Rupert Everett as Barbra’s agent Brian Debenham.

I have heard the show compared to The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, and it does seem to have that same feel. However, I haven’t seen much of that show beyond clips from awards shows, so I can’t say for certain. There is also talk about a second season, and I hope that is true because I don’t think Barbara’s story is quite done yet. At least, I hope not!

You can check out Funny Woman from Fountaindale Library on DVD.