Wisdom of Pearl

Feb 5 2003 By Val Javin, The Huddersfield Daily Examiner

Juliette Kaplan as Pearl

She's been playing Last of The Summer Wine battleaxe Pearl for over 20 years. And now Juliette Kaplan is bringing her small-screen alter ego to the stage in Huddersfield. She told VAL JAVIN all about it.

Then she hastily confesses: "It's a phrase first coined by Michael Aldridge - and I pinched it.

"I talk about the show and I also demonstrate how I put on the make up. I turn myself into Pearl as well as talking about it."

Then came another idea. Wouldn't it be good to have a short piece of theatre to do to complete the show? And the man to write it - who else but Summer Wine's creator, Roy Clarke.

Can't believe it? It sounds like Juliette can't quite believe it either.

She's still reeling from the shock of having dared to ask Roy Clarke if he'd do it.

Now she takes a sanguine view. "How did I get him to do it? It's called bare-faced cheek. I thought the worst thing he could do was to say no.

So Juliette called him, asked, and waited. "There was a sharp intake of breath and he said yes. He very kindly wrote me a short piece."

But it seemed the Pearl-like tenacity was taking over. Juliette wasn't finished yet. "I thought, why confine it to the cruises. Why not tour it. I contacted him again and said, Excuse me. What do you think of this idea?"

Fortunately, Roy Clarke was happy to say yes which is why, at the Lawrence Batley Theatre in late March, you'll be able to see one of the stars of our most enduring comedy series, in her own, one-woman show.

Juliette is now itching to bring Just Pearl to the LBT.