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By
FRANK BEHRENS
Here is a British mystery
series that did not appear on PBS's Mystery but in
its own timeslot. It is named "Rosemary &Thyme"
and the first season is now available in a boxed
set of 3 Acorn Media DVDs. Two women meet by
chance. One has just been fired from her teaching
position. This is Rosemary Boxer, played by still
cute as a button Felicity Kendal. The other has
just been abandoned by her husband. This is Laura
Thyme, played by Pam Ferris. Together they form a
gardening business and instantly run into all
sorts of foul play. That is the framing device.
The six episodes in this first season, even as I
write this, are airing on PBS. "And No Birds Sing"
brings the team together and poisonous plants lead
them to solving the crime. "Arabic and the Early
Spider" concerns a Gothic mansion and excavated
bones. "The Language of Flowers" centers on an
artistic cascade and a flowery secret code. "Sweet
Angelica" has the women looking into dirty doings
at a college and a strange Polish student who is
caught shoplifting. "A Simple Plot" is very
timely, dealing with land developers who might do
anything for real estate. Finally, "The Tree of
Death" centers on a medieval festival and archery.
While the plots are clever but not much different
from those solved by Miss Marple, Poirot,
Inspector Alleyn, and the rest of the British army
of sleuths, the two stars of "Rosemary & Thyme"
keep things perky. There are some bonuses in the
form of an interview with the two stars,
production notes, photo gallery, and cast
filmographies. |
