Not all of the monologues are pleasant though. A few are chilling. Three in particular manage to combine both pathos and horror as they move away from the ordinary world of aging and loneliness into mass murder, child molestation, and torture. From the perspective of a single witness, you almost come to understand Wilfred’s compulsions in “Playing Sandwiches”, and feel Rosemary’s humiliation and anger in “Nights in the Garden of Spain”. The most intense of all, “The Outside Dog” takes the reader on a journey through denial and discovery, and although it’s an eye opener, it’s not at all easy to listen to. Nevertheless, this is heady listening.
Alan Bennett is the master of the monologue, pondering a range of social issues with a deftness that few other playwrights could match. This powerful collection features some of Bennett’s most famous monologues, performed superbly by actors who clearly have a deep understanding of the work. The combination of character development, a great eye for the minutiae of everyday life, and a theatrical sense of the absurd and tragic inherent in that life makes Talking Heads an excellent piece of work.
Talking Heads
By Alan Bennett
BBC Audio
6 Audio CD Set, rrp $59.95, 2008
Article comments