Alan Bennett's 'On the Margin' (BBC Audio)

A very aimiable series of extracts of early Alan Bennett. Fairly dated with lots of audience guffaws at camp references but showing the spark of utter genius. However in pre Python days, there is always the uneasy punchline or lack of it to end the sketch. Personally the best to me are still the ones I am already familiar with through regurgitation in early Secret Policeman's Balls, so I can't say that I will be keeping this to play repeatedly. I prefer the more recent darker, more insightful Bennett commenting on small people coping with the grimness of reality, cream crackers and all.

Early Bennett sketch show is erratic but sometimes exceptional (0/0 people found this helpful)

This is all that remains of On the Margin, a casualty of the BBC's horrendous tape-wiping policy that has robbed us of so much (presumably) classic TV comedy. The CD collects all the remaining audio from the small screen series, which aired in late 1966 and was such a success it was repeated twice the following year.

Whilst drawing on the talents of John Sergeant and Virginia Stride, the series is unmistakably the work of Alan Bennett, fresh from the runaway success of Beyond the Fringe. His ear for dialogue, dry sense of observation and predilection for wordplay are much in evidence, particularly in the highlight, a lengthy portrait of a 30-something working class writer, 'A Writer's World'. As well as stuffing the monologue with absurdist asides ("My father was a miner, my mother IS a miner") and attaching an undercurrent of melancholic pathos, Bennett delights in lampooning the pretensions of wordsmiths and ends on a delightfully groansome final pun. The sketch appears to be a key influence on Monty Python's 'Working Class Playwright' sketch, which it predates by three years.

The set starts off shakily, with a sketch that edges towards Frankie Howerd territory (The Telegram), while other excerpts are antiquated in style or contain cultural references that render them incomprehensible - most notably the vastly overlong Life & Times in NW. Elsewhere the lack of visuals make it a touch difficult to ascertain exactly what's going on. But despite all that, Bennett's formidable talent makes this eminently worthwhile. There isn't a skit here that's not salvaged by some moment of verbal brilliance or sublime silliness. And the best of these positively drip with quality.

Flawed, certainly, but recommended regardless - Alan Bennett fans should find themselves richly rewarded.

An interesting artefact of 60s comedy and early Bennett (0/0 people found this helpful)

As the product description identifies, this is a rare find being two 30 minute shows out of a total six episode BBC radio comedy series broadcast in 1966, since the rest of the series has been lost under the BBC's re-use of tapes for later recordings. While the series was it seems repeated twice the following year I cannot recall it having the impact of many other popular radio shows that I listened to around that time. The reason is not hard to understand based on the limited evidence here.

With Alan Bennet as the main performer and writer the show epitomises his dry observation and understated digs at the England of that period, which 40 years on is hard to often relate to unless you lived through that time. Whether it is spoofing the arts critics show which started being popular fare on TV and radio in the late 60s commenting on nudity; the sending of a telegram with abbreviated sexual innuendos to save money; a male voyeur being prepared by his barrister for trial or a scout leader chastising a wayward scout, the poking at the sexual mores of the time are fully reflected in the title of the series "On the margin".

While it is tragic that the BBC reusing of tapes policy resulted in unwanted destruction of many historic recordings, I suspect not too many people would want to experience the whole series based on the taster available here. Never the less, it is fascinating as an early taster of Bennett's wry observations on British society.

First time/last time (0/0 people found this helpful)

Well this is the first time ive listend to alan bennett,and to be honest i wont be bothering again,a few minor chuckles at best,and not alot else.
If your a fan of his,then you will probably find alot more to laugh about,otherwise i would avoid this,maybe look at other cds that have better ratings.
i think its aged very badly and unless you grew up watching alan bennett which i didnt,you wont find much to laugh about.

Sporadically & Mildly Amusing. (0/0 people found this helpful)

I do have a great love of Alan Bennett, but this was rather so-so, managing only to raise the occasional smile. In contrast I have a great love of the likes of Talking Heads, which I can listen to again & again and still find amusing (apart from the rather awkward one about the paedophile park attendant). To be honest much of the problem here might be my age & the fact that it belongs to an era of which I was not a part. That said, I have managed to appreciate many other comedies before my time. Personally speaking, it's unlikely to be getting a second airing in my household.

Alan Bennett's 'On the Margin' (BBC Audio)

Alan Bennett

Reader Reviews:

"Taking the pith out of reality" (0/0 people found this helpful)

Early Bennett sketch show is erratic but sometimes exceptional (0/0 people found this helpful)

An interesting artefact of 60s comedy and early Bennett (0/0 people found this helpful)

First time/last time (0/0 people found this helpful)

Sporadically & Mildly Amusing. (0/0 people found this helpful)

Similar Products

Categories