Terrifeec – Beryl's genius lit up pantos in the city

YOU could tell it was Beryl Reid the moment she opened her mouth. Out would come those rounded Brummie vowels that instantly announced her much-loved character Marlene, the bop-happy Black Country teenager with the huge, dangling earrings.

Just like this year's Theatre Royal bill-topper Brian Conley, Beryl Reid was made for panto and 50 years ago, she was doing the business for city audiences.

The show was Jack and the Beanstalk, our Beryl appearing with perennial principal boy Audrey Jeans, a regular on the city panto scene.

But it was Beryl who stole the headlines, the Post's reviewer reminding readers of one of Marlene' favourite sayings... "She's terrifeec'.

According to the Post Beryl "reigns triumphant as the brightest light in Tom Arnold's sparkling Jack and the Beanstalk".

It wasn't Beryl's first panto appearance in town. In 1944 she appeared with Nottingham-born female impersonator Douglas Byng in Sleeping Beauty.

She also did variety, bringing Marlene and another of her creations, awful schoolgirl Monica, to the Empire.

In 1974 she appeared at the Playhouse in a National Theatre production of Wedekind's Spring Awakening.

Born in Hereford of Scottish parents, Beryl set her sights on a stage career as early as the age of four.

It took her to the early 1950s to make the breakthrough, introducing Marlene and her catchphrase "Good evening each" to fans of Educating Archie, a popular radio show starring ventriloquist Peter Brough and his dummy Archie Andrews.

Reid's brilliant characterisations earned her an army of fans, but she modestly said of her talent: "I don't really create characters I just let them grow.

"I never know exactly when a character is born.

"I just look and listen and hoard impressions and suddenly, many years later, a character is complete.

"I am lucky because I have a sort of blotting paper mind.

"I mop up accents and mannerisms. They fascinate me."

Educating Archie also gave a boost to the careers of several stars from Max Bygraves to 14-year-old songstress Julie Andrews. Reid became an overnight star and, unlike many radio personalities, she made the transition to television with ease.

Later, she moved away from comedy to tackle more dramatic roles, culminating in her portrayal of a lesbian soap opera star in both the stage and movie versions of The Killing of Sister George.

She won a Tony award for her stage performance and was nominated for a Golden Globe for her screen reprise.

She played Connie Sachs in the spy thrillers Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy and Smiley's People, winning a BAFTA for Best Actress on Television, and appeared in a variety of TV favourites including Minder.

In 1984 she published her best-selling biography, So Much Love,

Her marriage to musician Derek Franklin ended in divorce in 1966 and for the next 30 years she lived with a multitude of cats at the delightfully named Honeypot Cottage on the banks of the Thames in Berkshire.

In 1994 she accepted the invitation to become the new patron of the Carlton-based Cat Rescue and Welfare.

"Beryl Reid is always very popular and well known for her love of cats and we are very pleased to be able to use her name," said a spokesman for the charity.

Sadly, two years later Beryl Reid died from pneumonia at Honeypot Cottage. She was 76.

Stars lined up to pay tribute at her funeral, including actresses Susannah York, Miriam Margoyles and Eileen Atkins, who said: "There was no doubt that as a comedienne she had a touch of genius."