 During his time with the company , he also demonstrated what the Daily Telegraph called a " crusty charm " as Sir Oblong Fitz Oblong in Robert Bolt 's children 's play The Thwarting of Baron Bolligrew . He was also noted as possessing a gift for dry comedy during this period of his acting career , exemplified by his roles in Maxim Gorky 's plays Enemies and Summerfolk . He demonstrated a particular knack for Russian comedy in Jonathan Miller 's productions of the Anton Chekhov plays Three Sisters and Ivanov . 
