Characterized by the author's understatement, observation and knowing irony, these six Alan Bennett monologues were written for the second BBC1 series of "Talking Heads", the first having been transmitted 11 years earlier, in 1987.
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A decade after Alan Bennett's acclaimed first series of Talking Heads comes the eagerly anticipated follow up. Six more compassionate and acutely observed monologues performed by a terrific cast. Patricia Routledge, Julie Walters and Thora Hird all feature for a second time as, again using five women narrators alongside a solitary male, Bennett nags away at his pet obsessions in his own inimitable style. On the surface there is the usual mixture of chiropody, northern suburban life and an unnatural interest in soft furnishings. But underneath the semi- genteel facade lies the quiet agony of lives blighted and hopes dashed. An air of utter sadness pervades all these pieces from Miss Fozzard, who is quite straightforwardly transformed from a middle-aged and respectable spinster into a sort of foot fetish prostitute, to Celia, sitting alone in her shabby antique shop. Even after he had finished writing them Bennett says he: "left them in a drawer for a year as I felt they were too gloomy to visit upon the public". He needn't have worried. Gloomy or joyful doesn't matter so much as telling the truth and these wonderful monologues tell the truth. --Nick Wroe
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
By A Customer
Format:Paperback
The topics covered are similar to TH 1 but they are explored in different ways.
Again Bennett is ahead of his time, for example his portrayal of child abuse.
Throughout all of them we feel that the monologue is the only voice the subjects have and that they cannot talk to anyone else about the saddness in their lives. We are left feeling sympathy and pain for the charatcters.
Above all this is of high Bennett standard and the style awards no surprises.
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
By A Customer
Format:Paperback
Bennett's first Talking Heads was foisted upon me as an A Level student. I enjoyed every word. I recently read the second and consumed it within hours.
In Talking Heads 2 Bennett recreates an insightful and understanding picture of the 'extraordinary' and disappointing nature of ordinary lives, and yet it is entirely original and stands alone from his earlier work.
Life is demonstrated as being punctuated by sadness, regret, and necessary fortitude. It is the ordinary nature and commonality of such emotions which appeals to the reader and envinces a response of complete understanding and the ability to predict the outcome of the monologues as their events ensue.
The presentation of these themes through black humour somehow suggests the tragedy of human experience: for example the wife who is waiting for her husband's prostate to give out so that she can be free.
However, these monologues will cause tears of laughter as well as sadness; the pity you might otherwise dwell upon becomes a wry comment on the vagaries of our existence rather than a depressive look at the self-defeating nature of change.
2 of 3 people found the following review helpful
By A Customer
Format:Paperback
We have just read this as the first choice of our new book circle! Contributions ranged from the observations of those who had seen the monologues performed & also read the first issue of talking heads. It isn't a book that I would have chosen but after reading it I found it to be entertaining with the twist & turns of the hand of god, foot fetishes, paedophiles, kinky sex, murder etc. We were relating it to people we have all met during our lifetime. Some were naive & didn't believe such things happened. I believe it's all related to the experiences of the author. I await the next issue.
Listmania!
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