Talking Heads

Talking Heads is a series of dramatic monologues written for BBC Television by playwright Alan Bennett and was first broadcast in 1988, and they have also been included on the A level and G.C.S.E English Literature syllabus in schools. It opened in the West End at the Comedy Theatre in January 1992 for a 10-week season, staring Patricia Routledge and Alan Bennett and in 2003, several of the monologues were staged in New York at the Off Broadway Minetta Theatre.

I first saw Alan Bennett’s thirty minute long Monologues on television and enjoyed them immensely so I was curious to see how Chorley Amateur Dramatic and Operatic Society ( C.A.D.O.S.) would stage them. I need not have worried as C.A.D.O.S has once again presented us with another outstanding production. This time they offered for our enjoyment four very different stories from Bennett’s collection of monologues where we get a glimpse into the lives of each character and the lonely worlds they are caught in. Each of the stories is comedic, but is also a very poignant tragedy full of pathos. Director Zoe Duffin-Jones had at her disposal four outstanding actresses to narrate these stories which included “Her big Chance” a story about Lesley played by Sarah Norse, “A Bed Among The Lentils” Susan’s story narrated by Joanne Cunliffe, “A lady of letters” a story about Irene Ruddock narrated by Susan Hilton and “Cream Cracker Under the Settee” Doris‘s story narrated by Siobhan Edge. All four actresses produced some great acting and appeared to understand and live the character they were portraying bringing each story and character to life for the audience. They also had a good rapport with the audience and all had very clear diction, meaning that, in the main, the audience could hear every word and hearing the words they are speaking in this kind of genre is vital.  If you were lucky to see and enjoy the original plays on Television then you would have been equally impressed with this C.A.D.O.S production

The set was once again very well thought out making very good use of the stage area as each monologue had its own area of the stage which was very well dressed, well done to  the stage crew,  lighting and sound and also costumes which suited the roles very well  and also enhanced each characterisation.

My sincere congratulations and thanks to Zoe Duffin-Jones and everyone connected in anyway with this production, it was a great example of team-work which resulted in an excellent performance. Thank you very much for inviting me I had a very enjoyable evening as did the rest of the audience.
 

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