Mrs Shufflewick Live At The Black Cap, Camden 1972 pt.1 (audio only)
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- čas přidán 26. 11. 2013
- Rare recording of 'Mrs Shufflewick', created and performed by Rex 'Shuff' Jameson, recorded live at the New Black Cap pub, Camden, London, UK in 1972.
Notes by Molly Parkin:
'Mrs Shufflewick is a dirty old woman. She is 60, maybe 70, weak-willed and easily led. She has usually just had a few, you can tell by her big red conk and boss-eyed way of walking. She loves a gossip but can never stop long in case her next gin gets cold on the counter. Everybody laughs at her. They call her 'Shuff', they whistle and poke fun and cheer when she hoicks up her skirts. They always shout for more, though she doesn't need encouraging. She is a terrible show-off, whether she is tiddly or not. There is no holding her when there are sailors around: she has a weakness for the Navy. The last sailor she met was French, he kissed her on both cheeks. She was doing up her laces at the time.
She calls herself Missus but has never been married. She tells terrible stories of what she gets up to - she has been telling them for the last 20 years, all over the place, at the Windmill, music halls, working-men's clubs, Mecca bingo halls - she has even told them on telly, but had to clean them up a bit.
One Monday she appeared at the Mecca Dominion, Walthamstow, the same night as Miss World. They both went to entertain the bingo-players. Shuff got the most laughs, mainly from madams who looked just like her. She had thought of hiring a bathing costume and going on as Miss Courage, riding 14 white horses from Whitbreads, not to be outdone.
She won't even be outdone at Christmas. She has written her own panto - a skit on Cinderella. She plays Cinders, or course. (She is still trying to decide whether to make Cinderella's slipper into a bovver boot or a pair of panties).
Mrs Shufflewick is very familiar with the Cinderella story. It happens to her every night. After the last laugh and when the clapping dies, she disappears too, into an old brown leather suitcase. And where she stood stands Rex Jameson. He is an elf. A five-foot, 40-year old with a face like Buster Keaton. And a little green cap on his head and a coat that is a bit too big.
He gives the feeling of being a foundling, which he was. He was dumped when two weeks old on the doorstep of Trinity College Hospital and spent his childhood in Southend with a foster mother. He is a classic clown and as different from his creation, Mrs Shufflewick, as it is possible to be. Small and shy and painfully unsure, he is lonely in love and agonisingly unlucky with his choices. He is protected in his bad patches by the loyalty of his friends and sustained by them, too, through his bouts of insecurity and deep depression.
He is shockingly difficult to manage, like a Hancock or Keaton or W.C. Fields. It is a full-time job. But then Mrs Shufflewick knows she has the audience before she even starts.
It is as painful and personal as laughing at your mother when she has had one too many. And, of course, as far as Rex Jameson is concerned, his mother might be in the audience laughing unknowingly at her son. - Komedie
I started going to the Black Cap when I was 15, saw them all. I loved Shane (later we became friends, he was very special). Jean Fredericks, Shuff, Gladys, the bar staff…. It was heaven for me. The off-the cuff wit, the fun, how sad it is gone.
Saw him dozens of times he was one of the best I knew his act better than he did, god bless you Rex for some great Sunday lunch times at the Black Cap Camden Town. Mrs. Shufflewick - “I’ve just found out the landlord here is an Irish count - at least I think that’s what the barman called him. And I think he said his wife’s a Protestant up the West End”
RIP Marc Flemming, Mrs Shuffelwick, Regina Fong, and the rest of the crew, GONE, but never forgotten. Thanks for making me laugh and smile throughout my lifetime. All my Love, Tony xxxxxxxxxxx
I watch these clips on CZcams over & over again, what fun I remember of The Black Cap in the 70's when I 1st arrived in the UK, Tony Butler (now in Cork) xxxxxxxx
Hilarious !! So miss the Black Cap and the comedy drag shows !
Had this on a LP years ago and it got nicked by a "friend" just listened for first time in years, laughed all the way through just liked the old days, met him a couple of times in Worthing lovely guy! they don't make 'em like that anymore!
Wonderful!
you forget the old school Well yes
saw Shuff only once in 1981, at 16 I knew what I loved at the point
Yes everyone had a moustache then 1981 Haha
I will never forget Mrs. Shufflewick. I saw her a number of times at The Black Cap and the Vauxhall Tavern. In the late 70's I was a barman at a pub in North End Road
(senior moments keep me from remembering the name) It was a popular live music venue with gay themed attractions on Sunday lunch times. In any case she came quite often. As a barman I would sneak her pints of guiness while waiting for her show to begin. Sometime later I saw her/Rex on the 30 bus in street attire and said, "Hello Shuff" Rex was sartled but very kind. One of my very favorite entertainers on the London scene.
I've just heard about Mrs Shufflewick 😂....I tuned into L.B.C tonight.... 'In conversation' with Steve Allen and Barry Humphries and l discovered Mrs Shufflewick 😂
The funniest performer I've ever seen.
I used to pass the Black Cap on my way to school when I was a young boy and wondered what used to go on in there. It was the only pub in Camden Town that you couldn’t see into. Heavy curtains covered the windows day and night. Now I know !
really brought back some very good memories a really good time in those day how things have changed over the years not for the better
I was at this recording it was pure dead brilliant so it was.
Dear Mrs. Shufflewick - naked - on top of a 27 bus. Absolutely hilarious.
Sir peter blake the artist was say about this one
I've got Lee Sutton's LP here - I must get it transferred and upload it
Saw Lee Sutton at union tavern . Had to leave to get last train. Got up to leave and she shouted out , Have I said something to upset you. 😄
Yes ma'am.
So funny. I remember him being on TV years before (when he must've had to dampen down the jokes) but he's funnier here. I'd forgotten him until I read the second book of Paul O'grady's biography.
has any one got a copy of this on 12 " if would be fab to hear the whole thing
Does anyone remember Mark Flemming who used to appear in the Black Cap after Mrs Shufflewick, they were always billed together.
I do ... I was there in the mid 70s.
"YOU FUCKING LESBIAN!" Mark Fleming was ferocious.
What is that bell that keeps dinging ?