Talking Heads at the Manoel

Teatru Manoel will be presenting Talking Heads by Alan Benett on November 12, 13 and 14.

Master storyteller Alan Bennett makes a welcome return to the Manoel after the very successful production of History Boys

Four tales - darkly comic, tragically poignant and wonderfully uplifting, are told by four actors - Isabella Attard, Sue Scantlebury, Isabel Ripard and Polly March. Each of the four plays, ‘Bed Among the Lentils’, ‘Miss Fozzard Finds Her Feet’, The Hand of God’ and ‘Nights in The Gardens of Spain’ are rich in humour, pathos and dialogue as sharp as a needle. Bennett’s understanding of the strengths and frailties of the human condition are unsurpassed.

Nights In The Gardens Of Spain - Rosemary

Rosemary and her husband Henry are planning on selling their house and moving to Marbella. Henry is looking forward to the golf; Rosemary is less keen, as she loves her garden and isn’t sure how she will get on with a garden in Spain. Then, one morning, her neighbour Fran - whom she doesn’t really know, as their relationship is based on the occasional comment about Fran’s Magnolia Grandiflora – asks for her help with a bit of a problem. Helping sort out that problem leads to a complex, life changing situation, for both ladies. It changes life for Fran’s husband as well....quite drastically. Well, he is the problem, really.

The revelations of what goes on behind the suburban facades is shocking enough to bring the house prices down........

Bed Among The Lentils - Susan

Life for Susan, wife of Geoffrey the vicar, is complicated. She is always expected to be on parade. Why? Actor’s wives don’t come to every performance; a barrister’s wife isn’t always in court – why should she be expected to be present at every service? It’s very stressful, especially if you are hopeless with the church flowers, can’t run a tight jumble sale, and you’re an awful cook, with a husband who has a fan club of ladies very anxious to take good care of him . And she has to find ways of dealing with the stress. One way, in particular; it leads to quite long drives, to a corner shop owned by the lovely Mr Ramesh, and to a back room where Rosemary finally faces her demons and her life becomes happy every after. Or does it? God works in very mysterious ways.

Miss Fozzard Finds her Feet - Miss Fozzard

It’s a blow when your chiropodist decides to retire. You want your feet in safe hands, don’t you? Especially if you’re in charge of the Soft Furnishing Department and on your feet all day. Miss Fozzard’s feet fall into the hands of Mr Dunderdale, and nothing is quite the same again.

At home there is Miss Fozzard’s brother Bernard, incapacitated after a stroke, speechless and helpless. Miss Fozzard needs help and engages the services of a strapping young Australian girl. So that’s Bernard taken care of. And that all costs money, which is quite tight, even though she is in charge of Soft Furnishing; who would think that Mr Dunderdale might be the one to provide some extra help? There is a word for it....

The Hand of God - Celia

Celia’s antiques shop is not doing too well and she might - horror of horrors - be reduced to having to sell home-made jam and chutney! It’s only her kind heart that makes Celia visit elderly, frail Miss Ventriss, and only a coincidence that the house is a treasure trove of beautiful things. But in business, one has to keep a sharp eye out, and Celia’s eye is very sharp. Miss Ventriss is dying, and has no relatives....and so it’s only right that someone should pop in and keep an eye on her. And on her possessions. After all, business is business, and Celia could turn a tidy profit if some of those possessions should, by chance, happen to come her way. Funny thing, chance. Funny how things turn out...