Life on a Tuffet
January 20, 2011
Little Miss Muffet, Arthur Rackham
Thomas F. Bertonneau writes:
This is Dudley Moore (from his old “Beyond the Fringe” review) performing “Little Miss Muffet” in the style of Benjamin Britten; Moore’s singing imitates the monotone delivery of Britten “life partner” Peter Pears. I find it hilarious.
Laura writes:
Ha! I love that!
Hurricane Betsy writes:
All I’ve ever seen of Dudley Moore is a couple of dumb films. But that imitation of Britten/Pears is priceless. I didn’t know DM could sing like that (or sing at all). Amazing and screamingly funny. I like the drawing by Rackham you posted, and my favourite story illustrator is C. Tunnicliffe. The drawings that go along with children’s stories and fairy tales are unique in their ability to take me back 50 years and near to pierce my heart. Hard to explain.
Laura writes:
Some people may forget who Miss Muffet is and what she did. She was just a girl who sat on a tuffet, eating her curds and whey. Along came a spider and sat down beside her, and frightened Miss Tuffet, I mean Miss Muffet, away.
The problem was not her. It had something to do with the curds and whey.
Peter writes:
That spider’s the size of a dog. Forget Miss Muffet, that thing would scare off a SEAL team.
Laura writes:
It is also carrying a top hat.
John E. writes:
As I said, the subject is incomprehensible to some. It may have some correlation to one’s proximity to the Upper Midwest. I don’t expect to make you understand, but let me just say that consistency is key.
I have tried since I saw your response, and I still can’t think of anything to compare them to. Perhaps I’m lacking in imagination, but I think it’s rather due to the wonder of the curd. Along with beer, the process by which these tasty things come to us is strong proof that God has gone to great lengths to make us merry.
John adds:
If you cannot help but see cheese curds the way you do, you might acknowledge that eating them could help one to culture…excuse me…cultivate humility.
Laura writes:
Yes, I bet they do. : – )
