One with Estelle Parsons

Actually, Patricia Routledge took over the role of "Ruth" from Estelle Parsons in Joseph Papp's production outdoors in NYC's Central Park, which due to its accolades and stellar cast, transfered to the Delacorte Theater on Broadway... this production was taped for posterity, but never shown on TV- it IS available on DVD from the BROADWAY ARCHIVES- here's the link: http://www.broadwayarchive.com/catalog_detail.asp?id=90050060&referral=myBroadway0074

Unfortunately, Estelle's performance was never filmed, so you must have seen her live! She was marvelous in the role, and she was succeeded by several great actresses in the role...Angela Lansbury was brought in for the motion picture version and never played the roe on stage.

Here's some info on Patricia Routledge-
Patricia Routledge is an acclaimed British actor, possibly best known for "Keeping Up Appearances" where she appears as the grating Hyacinth Bucket.
Patricia, who studied at Liverpool University, the Bristol Old Vic Theatre School and London's Guildhall School of Music, made her professional debut at the Liverpool Playhouse in 1952. Her career has encompassed a huge variety of roles - from Alan Bennett's "Talking Heads" monologues and Victoria Wood As Seen On TV, to Shakespeare, Sheridan and musicals such as "Carousel." She can also be seen as the subject of the BBC series, "Funny Women."
Other highlights have included: a Tony Award in 1967 for her performance on Broadway in "Darling Of The Day"; a triumph in the title role of Offenbach's opera "The Duchess of Gerolstein" (1978); an acclaimed Queen Margaret in the Royal Shakespeare Company's "Richard III" (1984); an Olivier Award for her 'Old Lady' in "Candide" (1988).
In 1991, she received a British Comedy Award for Best Comedy Actress for "Keeing Up Appearances." In 1992, she was voted BBC Television Personality of the Year, and a year later was awarded the OBE. In the 60th anniversary awards for the BBC, she was also voted by viewers as the nation's favourite actress.

When Papp's staging was recreated in Los Angeles, the leads were played by Barry Bostwick(for Klein), Andy Gibb(for Rex Smith), Pam Dawber(of "Mork And Mindy" for Rondstadt) and JoAnne Worley as "Ruth"(from TV's "Laugh In")

I remember that SNL episode. It was the Christmas show of that year, and the cast of Pirates and SNL sang Christmas carols. I don't remember if they performed anything from Pirates, though.

Edit: I just looked it up, and it was the 1980 Christmas show with David Carradine as the host.

Happy New Year!