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Post by freckles on Apr 29, 2020 8:53:27 GMT
Wow, super cast. Am I right in thinking that the two they're not repeating are the ones originally performed by Dame Thora Hird? A good decision if so, my first thought was 'who will play Thora?" Looking forward very much to these and playing spot the set! I wonder if the reason aside from that is that Cream Cracker is profoundly depressing, especially in the current climate of isolation. A shame in some ways as for me it's the best monologue of them all but equally I genuinely don't think Thora Hird could possibly be bettered.
As wonderful as Thora Hird was, I'm sure its a lot more to do with the current situation. My first thought when I heard they were re-doing these monologues was that Cream Cracker would be devastating at the moment - it's pretty upsetting under normal circumstances. I think it's the right call.
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Post by distantcousin on Apr 29, 2020 9:19:59 GMT
The most surprising one is Maxine taking on Mrs Fozzard - WAY younger than Pat Routledge was when she played the role. Will it work?! I'll be throttled by Alan for this but I was rather too old for the part at the time - 69, since you asked. Miss Fozzard is most definitely middle-aged but still in gainful employment, so could still be played convincingly by a younger woman. She'd just need to bring enough "northern spinster" to the role.
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Post by TallPaul on Apr 29, 2020 9:27:50 GMT
Surely some TB members have seen the stage version of Talking Heads? I didn't see it in London's glittering West End, but a later iteration in the provinces. I'm afraid it was one of the dullest nights I've spent in a theatre! ☹
That said, if I were a producer or theatre looking for a lower risk production to reopen with, Talking Heads ticks many boxes, especially if the rebooted TV version is well received. Maybe they've already pencilled it in at the Bridge?
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Post by alicechallice on Apr 29, 2020 9:57:06 GMT
Surely some TB members have seen the stage version of Talking Heads? I didn't see it in London's glittering West End, but a later iteration in the provinces. I'm afraid it was one of the dullest nights I've spent in a theatre! ☹ I saw the Bath production on tour a few years ago (A Lady of Letters, A Chip in the Sugar, A Cream Cracker under the Settee) and wasn't bored for a second. |
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Post by distantcousin on Apr 29, 2020 10:38:50 GMT
Filming is taking place at BBC Elstree Studio using existing sets. Probably for the best. It's so much more convenient than using sets that don't exist.
Would be funny if they took place inside of familiar EastEnders' residents homes!!! (filmed at Elstree)
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Post by talkingheads on Apr 29, 2020 11:09:31 GMT
Surely some TB members have seen the stage version of Talking Heads? I didn't see it in London's glittering West End, but a later iteration in the provinces. I'm afraid it was one of the dullest nights I've spent in a theatre! ☹ That said, if I were a producer or theatre looking for a lower risk production to reopen with, Talking Heads ticks many boxes, especially if the rebooted TV version is well received. Maybe they've already pencilled it in at the Bridge? I hope so! I saw it with amongst others Stephanie Cole doing Cream Cracker in Bath. Wonderful. Especially now there are two new monologues never performed live before. |
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Post by sf on Apr 29, 2020 15:37:29 GMT
I wonder if the reason aside from that is that Cream Cracker is profoundly depressing, especially in the current climate of isolation. A shame in some ways as for me it's the best monologue of them all but equally I genuinely don't think Thora Hird could possibly be bettered.
As wonderful as Thora Hird was, I'm sure its a lot more to do with the current situation. My first thought when I heard they were re-doing these monologues was that Cream Cracker would be devastating at the moment - it's pretty upsetting under normal circumstances. I think it's the right call.
According to an article in the Times yesterday, it's because they feel it's too risky in these circumstances to film with an actress in the appropriate age bracket for 'A Cream Cracker Under The Settee' and 'Waiting For The Telegram'. 'Talking Heads is coming back - and this time it's in lockdown'"What they all agreed they could not do, however, were the two episodes originally performed by Thora Hird. The first, A Cream Cracker Under the Settee, is about a 75-year-old widow who has fallen off her pouffe. The second, Waiting for the Telegram, is about a 100-year-old woman waiting for her telegram from the Queen. Both required actresses of advanced age, and thus in a high-risk group. They discussed approaching some big names of that sort of vintage — “I think you can probably guess which actors it might have been,” Loader says, making no explicit reference to Smith, Judi Dench or Eileen Atkins, all 85 — but decided it was too big a risk. What if the venerable national treasure concerned put herself in danger because she was too much of a trouper to say no? He and Hytner couldn’t live with the responsibility, Loader says. “It’s just not safe for them.”"
Another interesting detail in that article - they're apparently going to do hair and makeup by sending the performers a pack of materials to apply themselves and then having the hair and make-up artists guide them via Zoom - obviously, since it's not possible for hair and make-up artists to work in the normal way and maintain safe social distancing. |
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Post by talkingheads on Apr 29, 2020 16:03:51 GMT
As wonderful as Thora Hird was, I'm sure its a lot more to do with the current situation. My first thought when I heard they were re-doing these monologues was that Cream Cracker would be devastating at the moment - it's pretty upsetting under normal circumstances. I think it's the right call.
According to an article in the Times yesterday, it's because they feel it's too risky in these circumstances to film with an actress in the appropriate age bracket for 'A Cream Cracker Under The Settee' and 'Waiting For The Telegram'. 'Talking Heads is coming back - and this time it's in lockdown'"What they all agreed they could not do, however, were the two episodes originally performed by Thora Hird. The first, A Cream Cracker Under the Settee, is about a 75-year-old widow who has fallen off her pouffe. The second, Waiting for the Telegram, is about a 100-year-old woman waiting for her telegram from the Queen. Both required actresses of advanced age, and thus in a high-risk group. They discussed approaching some big names of that sort of vintage — “I think you can probably guess which actors it might have been,” Loader says, making no explicit reference to Smith, Judi Dench or Eileen Atkins, all 85 — but decided it was too big a risk. What if the venerable national treasure concerned put herself in danger because she was too much of a trouper to say no? He and Hytner couldn’t live with the responsibility, Loader says. “It’s just not safe for them.”"
Another interesting detail in that article - they're apparently going to do hair and makeup by sending the performers a pack of materials to apply themselves and then having the hair and make-up artists guide them via Zoom - obviously, since it's not possible for hair and make-up artists to work in the normal way and maintain safe social distancing. With technology these days I'm surprised they couldn't film from home. We have lots of TV shows doing that at the moment. |
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Post by basdfg on Apr 29, 2020 16:13:27 GMT
According to the media interviews, it's because they didn't want to put actresses aged 80+ at risk so eventually decided that they couldn't do those two pieces. I wonder if in time when it's safer maybe the two will get done. |
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Post by alicechallice on Apr 29, 2020 16:58:17 GMT
According to the media interviews, it's because they didn't want to put actresses aged 80+ at risk so eventually decided that they couldn't do those two pieces. I wonder if in time when it's safer maybe the two will get done. If Patricia Routledge did 'Telegram' that would be all kinds of amazing considering at 91, she's the closest in actual age to the character. I could see Anne Reid doing a good 'Cream Cracker'. |
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Post by BurlyBeaR on Apr 29, 2020 18:18:46 GMT
“Gunter wants to see your knockers”
I’m telling you right here, right now, no one is going to perform Her Big Chance better than Julie Walters.
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Post by talkingheads on Apr 29, 2020 18:44:59 GMT
“Gunter wants to see your knockers” I’m telling you right here, right now, no one is going to perform Her Big Chance better than Julie Walters. I wonder that with A Chip in the Sugar, Graham is so distinctly Bennett's voice it'll be a hell of a job for anybody to equal it never mind better it! Also Playing Sandwiches, while there is more scope to play it differently, it is the piece that made me a fan of David Haig, it really is an astonishing piece of work. |
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Post by distantcousin on Apr 30, 2020 16:05:14 GMT
As wonderful as Thora Hird was, I'm sure its a lot more to do with the current situation. My first thought when I heard they were re-doing these monologues was that Cream Cracker would be devastating at the moment - it's pretty upsetting under normal circumstances. I think it's the right call.
According to an article in the Times yesterday, it's because they feel it's too risky in these circumstances to film with an actress in the appropriate age bracket for 'A Cream Cracker Under The Settee' and 'Waiting For The Telegram'. 'Talking Heads is coming back - and this time it's in lockdown'"What they all agreed they could not do, however, were the two episodes originally performed by Thora Hird. The first, A Cream Cracker Under the Settee, is about a 75-year-old widow who has fallen off her pouffe. The second, Waiting for the Telegram, is about a 100-year-old woman waiting for her telegram from the Queen. Both required actresses of advanced age, and thus in a high-risk group. They discussed approaching some big names of that sort of vintage — “I think you can probably guess which actors it might have been,” Loader says, making no explicit reference to Smith, Judi Dench or Eileen Atkins, all 85 — but decided it was too big a risk. What if the venerable national treasure concerned put herself in danger because she was too much of a trouper to say no? He and Hytner couldn’t live with the responsibility, Loader says. “It’s just not safe for them.”"
Another interesting detail in that article - they're apparently going to do hair and makeup by sending the performers a pack of materials to apply themselves and then having the hair and make-up artists guide them via Zoom - obviously, since it's not possible for hair and make-up artists to work in the normal way and maintain safe social distancing. It would be marvellous if these could be done at a later date. |
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Post by talkingheads on Apr 30, 2020 23:03:34 GMT
I rewatched A Chip In The Sugar, the superlatives are obvious at this point but it really struck me how odd it's going to be seeing somebody else do this one in particular. The Northern inflection on the lines and Bennett's lilt are so intrinsic to Graham and the lines he speaks I really can't imagine how Martin Freeman is going to do it. But obviously I hope I'm pleasantly surprised!
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Post by n1david on May 1, 2020 8:52:36 GMT
I rewatched A Chip In The Sugar, the superlatives are obvious at this point but it really struck me how odd it's going to be seeing somebody else do this one in particular. The Northern inflection on the lines and Bennett's lilt are so intrinsic to Graham and the lines he speaks I really can't imagine how Martin Freeman is going to do it. But obviously I hope I'm pleasantly surprised! I think the challenge for most of the actors is going to be how to avoid doing an impersonation off the originals, given that they’re so iconic. The new ones have some excellent directors stacked to them, it’s going to be interesting to see what changes are made and if the text is tweaked in any way |
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Post by theatreian on May 1, 2020 8:58:36 GMT
Imelda just said on radio 2 she was filming hers next week. Filming started last week on the others and they are going out pretty soon I think.
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Post by distantcousin on May 1, 2020 9:55:30 GMT
I hope they don't try and slavishly recreate them - or what would be the point, other than invite endless comparisons between the original actors?
There's nothing to say they HAVE to be set in "T'North"!
I've performed one before doing a working class Buckinghamshire accent! All it needed were a few Yorkshire place names replacing - we are not SO different down South. It's all about the human condition at the end of the day!
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Post by talkingheads on May 1, 2020 10:35:23 GMT
Imelda just said on radio 2 she was filming hers next week. Filming started last week on the others and they are going out pretty soon I think. That's great! I suppose there's hardly a lot of editing that needs to be done, the originals were mainly three lots of ten minutes. |
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Post by TallPaul on Jun 9, 2020 10:22:18 GMT
Begins with a double-bill at 9pm on Tuesday 23 June. All 12 episodes will be available to watch on the iPlayer from the same date.
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Post by Deleted on Jun 9, 2020 13:26:54 GMT
“Gunter wants to see your knockers” I’m telling you right here, right now, no one is going to perform Her Big Chance better than Julie Walters. I wonder that with A Chip in the Sugar, Graham is so distinctly Bennett's voice it'll be a hell of a job for anybody to equal it never mind better it! Also Playing Sandwiches, while there is more scope to play it differently, it is the piece that made me a fan of David Haig, it really is an astonishing piece of work. Martin Freeman is not the first person who comes to mind for 'A Chip In The Sugar' so I'm intrigued to see his take on it. I'd like to see Duncan Preston do it, but maybe it's too similar to Alan Bennett. |
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Post by alece10 on Jun 9, 2020 15:27:42 GMT
Really looking forward to this. The WOS pics look good.
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Post by talkingheads on Jun 9, 2020 16:29:38 GMT
Really looking forward to this, especially the two new ones! Of the lot Playing Sandwiches especially is devastating every time so will be cautious going into the new one.
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1,761 posts
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Post by marob on Jun 9, 2020 16:37:55 GMT
Really looking forward to this. The WOS pics look good. Great pictures. Slightly surreal seeing that cast on those sets, a bit like someone's EastEnders dream cast. |
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Post by distantcousin on Jun 18, 2020 13:27:07 GMT
the trailer is HERE! Not long now (looks like they are doing it "period" by the clothes and furnishings?...)
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Post by talkingheads on Jun 18, 2020 14:34:16 GMT
the trailer is HERE! Not long now (looks like they are doing it "period" by the clothes and furnishings?...) Really looking forward to this! It'll be difficult not to binge them all straight away! |
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