Alan Bennettās 12 monologues in this new incarnation on BBC TV are altogether darker than I remember them . In Playing Sandwiches Lucian Msamati is gripping as Wilfred , an easy-going park gardener with a terribly dark past that you know from the start will catch up with him.
Ofcourse his crime of paedophilia is unforgivable Ā but itās his matter- of – fact ness, his day-to-day kindness that is truly shocking. We actually like many aspects of his character. Is Bennett telling us not be wholly judgemental, or that life is complex – certainly not telling us paedophilia is acceptable , surely? You decide.
Martin Freeman takes on the role played by Bennett himself first time round in Ā A Chip In The Sugar. Graham is saddled with his mother whoās descending bit by bit into dementia. When what my Aunrie Gladys – also from Bennettās home city Leeds – would have called motherās ex ā fancy manā turns up again after 52 years , thereās going to be sad and damaging humour.
Some of the humour is from the dependency of Graham, partially caused by mental illness but Bennett doesnāt tread too far in Ā that dangerous direction. Theroux famously coined the phrase about men living ā lives of quiet desperation ā. Bennett has a wide array of both men and women who fit that bill.
The Outside Dog, starring Rochenda Sandall , Ā is altogether a darker and fairly humourless portrayal of a woman coming to terms with the fact she may be living with a serial killer . Itās an electrifying performance as the truth gradually dawns – but what will she do about Ā this knowledge?
In Bed Among The Lentils , Lesley Manville is Ā the alcoholic wife to the local boring vicar Ā – an absolute mastercalass in under-acting and perfect sharp, witty, bitter comedy. Manville never puts a foot wrong and is brilliant in her/ Bennettās acerbic and bitchy dissection of the church flower arranging ladies. Vintage Ā stuff and again with a marvellously joyous twist in the tale.
Talking Heads are available on BBC iplayer
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