Festive laughs with Lawrence
HUMOUR fit to grace a Morecambe and Wise script suddenly tickles us, in DH Lawrence’s ground-breaking “adaptation” from working-class life Sons And Lovers, as dazzling “fairy prince” of the Morel family, William, arrives in Bestwood from London for Christmas, with his glamorous, “glib” fiancée, beautiful brunette Lily “Gypsy” Western.
The children gasp to learn William has lashed out a “fabulous price”, eight guineas, for Gyp’s diamond engagement ring. Walter Morel responds scornfully. “More fool him. If he’d gen me some on’t, it ‘ud ha’ looked better on ‘im.” Mrs Morel, recalling Walter bought her no engagement ring, prefers apple of her eye William, “who was not mean, if he was foolish”.
The “expensive” Gyp, with “her blessed airs” lets herself be waited on by William’s willing sister – much to his discomfort.
They’ve decked their home with holly, mistletoe and pretty paper chains.
Come Christmas morning, William is “up singing and larking”. He calls upstairs to Gyp, “Are you getting up?” A faint voice answers “Yes”. William shouts “Merry Christmas!” Gypsy’s laugh is heard “pretty and tinkling” in her bedroom. When Gyp fails to appear, William hollers playfully “Happy New Year!”. A “laughing voice, far away” replies “Thank you, Chubby, dear!” William implores her – “Buck up!”.
An hour later, he’s still waiting. Mr Morel, who rises before 6am, exclaims: “Well, it’s a winder!” They’ve had breakfast, all, but William. Becoming cross, he shouts sarcastically: “Shall I have to send you an Easter egg up there?” She laughs, and at last appears, looking attractive. When William asks incredulously if she’s really been so long getting ready, Gyp protests: “Chubby dear! That question is not permitted is it, Mrs Morel?”
Walking to chapel, with William in frock coat and silk hat, Gypsy in “London-made costume”, the others expect onlookers to “bow to the ground in admiration”. Standing in the road in his “Sunday suit” watching this “gallant pair,” Walter feels himself “the father of princes and princesses”.
■ 100 years ago, on December 26, 1921, Lawrence tells his pal Koteliansky (“Kot”) he’s had “a return touch of influenza – and Christmas in bed”. But he doesn’t care: “It saved me going out on a horrible Xmas dinner.” He asks Kot to send “a packet of primus stove needles”. He’s sent Kot Balzac’s Contes Drolatiques. On December 28 he tells Mabel Sterne of his belief in Taos, and Indians and on the 30th tells Catherine Carswell he’s sent her a copy of Tortoises. He hopes her “Christmas was jolly”.