Question: Does anyone know why Wendy Richard (Ms. Brahms) is the only one not wearing blackface for the musical number at the end of the episode?
Answer: In Britain, there was the show Black and White Minstrels which was very popular until the late 70s. The men were all blacked up, but the women weren't - hence Black and White Minstrels. It's been a while since I saw the episode to know if Mrs Slocombe was blacked up as well, but technically she shouldn't have been.
That is the biggest load of bull I've ever heard regarding that episode! And y'all wonder why black folks hate white people. LOL.
Question: When everyone is having the meeting about adapting their approach to customers in an American fashion. Captain Peacock says that he heard that Austin Reeds had an unusual position. What was it?
Answer: He actually said that they had an "interesting position," which doesn't refer to any job in particular but is merely a set-up for Mr. Humphries' innuendo-laden response: "That rumor's been going around for some time."
But what is the "interesting position"? That is what I want to know. Does it mean that employees at Austin Reeds often dress up to try and get more customers or something else?
The interesting position just means an interesting job - it doesn't matter what it was. As mentioned previously, it is just a setup for Mr. Humphries' response.
Answer: In minstrel shows there was also a stereotype of black men preying on white women, so that's probably why she was not in black face. Also, Mrs. Slocombe is in blackface because she is an older, stout woman and she fits the "mammy" stereotype.