Keeping Up Appearances - Entertaining the Hyacinth Way [VHS]

For those who don't know, the main character of Keeping Up Appearances, Hyacinth Bucket (pronounced "bouquet," of course), embodies the phrase "delusions of grandeur." The comedy in this popular British series revolves around Hyacinth's insatiable need to be the most correct hostess, have the "best" people to her candlelight suppers, and to be a sort of Martha-Stewart-Delia-Smith-with-a-cup-of-Emily-Post squared. Patricia Routledge's artful portrayal provides solid ground for the humor; her talented delivery of Hyacinth's pronouncements is complemented expertly by her marvelous facial expressions. Although some of the supporting cast can be overzealous in their acting, Hyacinth's sister Daisy and Onslow (played respectively by Judy Cornwall and Geoffrey Hughes) counterbalance nicely the sometimes hackneyed terror of the more prim and proper characters at Hyacinth's approach.

In the first episode, Hyacinth discovers a spot by the nearby river that's just perfect for a picnic. With zest, she organizes a riverside picnic and invites everyone to her "Waterside Supper with Riparian Entertainments." Hyacinth's guest list includes the perpetually nervous neighbor Elizabeth and her cowering brother Emmett, the vicar and his wife, and her sister Violet. As one might well imagine, the event does not go off without a hitch. Hyacinth carries on in the best British tradition, and all have a chance to admire her stiff upper lip. The second episode finds Hyacinth's long-suffering husband starting his retirement early. Hyacinth is extremely proud of this honor for her husband and looks forward to spending more time with him. Richard, understandably, is not as enthusiastic and remains in a daze on his final day at work. Meanwhile, Hyacinth is angling to get him another job with Henderson Frozen Foods by inviting the prestigious Mrs. Henderson to tea. Fate seems to plot against her as her popular (with the gentlemen) sister Rose arranges to meet a suitor right in front of Hyacinth's house. The final episode features Hyacinth dueling with her social competition (they had a celebrity hardware-store owner to their barbecue) in a uniquely Hyacinth way: with an indoors-outdoors barbecue. She has even managed to commandeer the "garden-center king" for her occasion. This important social event notwithstanding, Daisy's troubles with Onslow become the focus of concern. While Daisy has always known her husband was a "menace to the female sex," he has been coming home late recently and naturally she fears the worst. She turns to her sisters for help and advice. Her timing couldn't be worse for Hyacinth, who is desperately trying to win an imaginary war of celebrity and fancy entertaining. --Amanda Powter