User Reviews

'A Visit from Miss Protheroe' presents Patricia Routledge as a secretary visiting her former boss, on the surface all sweetness and light - but is she really as friendly as she seems? It's a beautiful performance punctuated by verbal asides from Bennett himself. Although dry and informative, perhaps these are a little unnecessary but they highlight that people don't always say and think the same things. In any case, it is always a pleasure to listen to Bennett's voice.

Mr Dodsworth, the boss, is played with understatement by Hugh Lloyd, who conveys resignation, despair, and boredom in one fell swoop. And with one studio set (including non-talking budgie) this play is a compact 37 minutes, tight, well-written and directed, and memorable.

Amusing, but slightly one-joke premise that starts to wear out even in this brief 36 minute BBC film.

Mrs. Profroe, a self satisfied social climber, goes to visit her recently retired and recently widowed boss. On the surface her visit is to cheer him up by keeping him informed of what's going on at their old place of business, but in truth she's more interested in undermining his happiness and self-confidence.

Both Hugh Lloyd and Patricia Routledge give very good performances in this very stagy, one- set piece directed by Stephen Frears. But as good a writer as Bennett is, and as well observed his turns of phrase are, in the end, we don't know much more at the end of the piece than we do about 5 minutes in. Most of this consists of just running darkly funny variations of Miss Prothroe slowly driving poor Mr. Dodsworth crazy.

With this much talent taking part, that still gives one much to enjoy, in spite of the frustration as it slowly dawns that the piece is almost more a long comic sketch then a true play of greater depth that would show the best of all involved.