Posted by Peter H on October 04, 2003 at 18:59:39 from 81.135.10.187 user Peter_H.
In Reply to: Re: fraternization with Mate Susan posted by Adam Quinan on October 04, 2003 at 02:56:44:
I am very glad to see some pro-Susan enthusiasm at last (even if it's just for the actress who played her). I wrote an article in support of the much-maligned Susan Walker in Mixed Moss in 1992. It’s too long to post here, and I wouldn’t want to bore anyone with it, but I will repeat the closing paras, because I haven’t changed my mind since:
‘No one can pretend that Susan has a popular starring role in the Swallows series; she has not the energy and inventiveness of Nancy, nor the delicate charm of Titty, nor even Dorothea’s overall niceness, but perhaps because Susan is not always totally likeable, she can seem the most human of them all. It was part of AR’s genius to incorporate this cautious and superficially rigid character into his cast, with the result that the Swallows are so perfectly balanced (one Titty is marvellous, but can you imagine two of them?). AR gave Susan few chances to show her mettle, but when he did, she didn’t let him down: ‘the ship was suddenly full of happiness.
‘I hope I have done my bit to encourage everyone to look at the Mate with more approving eyes. In fact I now invite you all to raise your glasses of grog to this character who is not afraid to be laughed at or to show tears, who can lay down rules without being considered a spoilsport and who progresses from a timid child not feeling able to write her own letter to Daddy (at the start of SA) to a brave young woman wrapping her brothers and sisters in her care on the North Sea at night (in WD).
‘Oh, and by the way, she can also handle a boat, so the next time the ‘parts’ are being handed out on a day’s ‘voyage’, don’t let any young Tar feel disappointed to be given the role of ‘Susan’ – in fact rather a lot is being asked of you!’