CONSTANCE, LADY CRABTREE is a comedy character

created 34 years ago by author & broadcaster PAUL JAMES

Paul had been introduced to the comedy double act of Patrick Fyffe and George Logan - HINGE & BRACKET - in the summer of 1976 and was inspired by this extremely clever female impersonation, where the line between reality and make-believe became blurred. He saw many of their live performances over the next twenty-five years, met Patrick on numerous occasions, and in 1985 Dame Hilda Bracket wrote the Foreword to one of Paul's books.

 Hinge & Bracket

 

It was while appearing in cabaret in 1978 that Paul James decided to create his own character - and LADY CRABTREE made her first public appearance. Intended only as a single performance, Paul was surprised by the audience demand to see more of Lady C - and the act began to develop.

 

   

Wanting Lady Crabtree to be as credible as Hinge & Bracket, yet completely different in style and character, he avoided their cosy nostalgia and made Lady C very much a woman of her times. The redoubtable Lady Crabtree told stories of her marital problems with husband Claude (chairman of the mid-Yorkshire Swine Breeders' Federation); the difficulties she had encountered on marrying into the aristocracy; the embarrassment caused by her twin sister Millicent (currently on husband number five), and was not afraid to air her views about public figures - especially when Mrs Thatcher entered Downing Street in 1979.

Although Lady Crabtree occasionally sang - there was a deliberate attempt to avoid comparison with Hinge & Bracket, and Lady C was much more likely to launch into a Joyce Grenfell style comic monologue. And she was just a touch more glamorous!

 

Various invitations came in and Lady C judged a fancy dress competition and a beauty contest, made a presentation to Sir Anthony Harris (son of 'Bomber' Harris), and by 1982 had appeared on a celebrity panel game for BBC Radio 2, had undertaken many press interviews, continued to perform in hotels, and frequently aired her views in the media. She made her first TV appearance on the popular BBC 1 programme "Pebble Mill at One", and wrote two books that became international best-sellers, making extensive promotional tours of the UK and undertook the inevitable bookshop signing sessions at well-known stores. 

 The act developed further when Lady Crabtree was joined on stage by her son GILES in 1984, followed a year later by her old chum MORAG AUCHTERMUCHTY from Finishing School days.

Since 1991 Lady Crabtree has performed as a solo act.

St Philip's Hall, February 2011

 Langham Hotel, April 2012

 

                

Setting out for Jevington & Filching WI 60th Anniversary (29th October 2011) and for Polegate Afternoon Fellowship (1st November 2011)
           
 

COMMENTS ABOUT LADY CRABTREE 

“Rarely can a society meeting have been quite so dazzled – there is no other word. As the chairman enviously remarked – all that erudition and wit, and not a single note.”

Eastbourne Gazette, October 2007

“The Gala Dinner in the evening was a splendid affair. The room looked lovely, the dinner was excellent and Lady Crabtree, our special guest, was enormous fun, having everyone in hysterics.” 

Ladies' Captain, Royal Eastbourne Golf Club, October 2008

     

     "Excellent! It is two weeks since Lady Crabtree's visit, and our members still haven't stopped talking about it!"

       Polegate Ladies Circle, July 2010

 

      "The people of St John's Guild were so grateful that Lady Crabtree came along to entertain us. We were fascinated by by her showbusiness reminiscences. It was interesting to hear the source of her wonderful diction. And if we ever have to arrange a seating plan, we will call her in!"

St John's Guild, August 2010

 

      "It was a very interesting morning when we all met the Dowager Lady Crabtree. We all enjoyed her comic monologues and witty stories about her life. Time flew by and we were sorry when the meeting ended."

Saffrons Ladies Club, October 2010

    

      "We all thoroughly enjoyed the evening. To have such professional entertainment at a church event was just extraordinary."

Christ Church with St Philip, February 2011

 

      "Lady Crabtree looked fabulous... her hour with us was so professional, and word perfect, you wonder just how she managed to remember all those lines. She received a tremendous ovation from our members, and while we were all enjoying a cup of tea afterwards, our members were saying just how much they had enjoyed the afternoon's entertainment."

Eastbourne & District Cardiac Support Group, May 2011

 

      "Lady Crabtree has given me back my sense of humour. I see so much comedy on television that I just don't find funny, and I really thought that I would never laugh again. But this afternoon I have ached with laughter."

Audience member, May 2011

 

     "You really are the dream speaker. Turning up on time - finishing at exactly the right moment and giving everyone a really entertaining and enjoyable afternoon. You sometimes get one or two of the pointers, but oh so rarely do you get all three!!!    Thank you so much - I absolutely basked in all the lovely comments from our members on their way out."

Jean Taylor, Friends of the Devonshire Park Theatre, August 2011

    

    

     "I hadn't had the pleasure of seeing you perform before and for me it was an hour of warmth, gentle naughty humour and delicious anecdotes so cleverly crafted. From the feedback I received from our members I know you delighted and entertained. Thank you for giving us all an afternoon to remember."

Angela Hughes, Social Committee Chairman, Friends of the Devonshire Park Theatre, August 2011

 

    "Members of the Friends of the Devonshire Park Theatre enjoyed a special treat when they took tea with the Dowager Lady Crabtree on 7th August 2011.  It proved to be a real hoot, as the refined Constance, Lady Crabtree is actually author and broadcaster Paul James in his other guise - and his comedy routine produced an hour of almost non-stop laughter."

FDPT website

    "The 60th anniversary tea party at the Langham Hotel was very successful with entertainment by Lady Crabtree."

Jevington & Filching WI, October 2011