Alan Bennett- 90 Years On.

I enjoyed it .

Fabulous chap. I've adored him for years.

I enjoyed it too. He seems like a lovely man. His understanding of ‘the human condition’ (pompous phrase, but you know what I mean) shines through in his writing.

Wonderful man

Alan Bennett is a genius in my book. There is no arrogance or pompousness about him. It's hard to choose my favourite amongst all the wonderful writing he has produced but the Talking Heads monologues take some beating.

I agree that he is a literary genius, and a very self effacing man. Two of his plays that particularly stick in my mind are “An Englishman Abroad” where Alan Bates played Guy Burgess and Coral Browne played herself, and “A Question of Attribution”, another play about espionage with James Fox as Anthony Blunt, and Prunella Scales playing HM the Queen. Unbelievably subtle, riveting performances. There are many others, but those two I could watch over and over.

Sat near him in Betty’s in Harrogate some years ago.
Seemed absolutely charming. I
loved his Talking Heads book/tv adaptations.

The lady in the van was very memorable.
Alan Bennett is superb.

I have read all his books and have been a big fan for decades.
I loved them all but absolutely loved “A life like other people’s”

Very sorry I missed this but hoping to get it on catch up.

Will watch it on catch up. I enjoyed the History Boys and The Madness of George III.

Quote from AB:
“Life is like a box of sardines and we are all looking for the key”.

Whenever I think of Alan Bennett I imagine an afternoon in late autumn. Outside there’s a chill in the air and the last little bit of sunshine has disappeared. As I walk towards this little cottage there is a carpet of leaves on the road.

I am in a small front room with old fashioned furniture, long curtains and a lovely roaring fire. I settle myself in a chair by the fire, tuck my legs up and get out my AB book. I never want the book to end.

That’s very poetic Primrose53

He was a neighbour of ours, a wonderful man.
He once gave a eulogy at funeral in the village church, it was both moving and hilarious.

Some years ago I was in a Theatre Company ( not am-dram)
We put on Habeas Corpus at a local theatre for 4 nights and a matinee.
I played Constance Wicksteed. If you know the play you will know it’s full of smut and innuendo. How we got through it without collapsing in giggles I’ll never know. 😂
What made it worse was that I worked with the Character playing Cannon Throbbing 😂
I don’t know how I held it together in this scene I’ll never know.

Sago

He was a neighbour of ours, a wonderful man.
He once gave a eulogy at funeral in the village church, it was both moving and hilarious.

DH and I were on holiday in Yorkshire a few years ago.

We explored various little villages, and one of them was where he lived when not in London.

We met him walking down the road, in his trademark shoes and long overcoat, I think he was wearing the same coat in the documentary last night!

He’s very tall, he said ‘Good Morning’ to us and smiled.

I was absolutely thrilled to have seen him, it made my holiday!

Me too! I must be getting old as remember him from the great days of Beyond the Fringe. They were all so good and remained so with wit and intelligence. Loved everything he did, but especially Talking Heads. Being a yorkshire woman myself I recognised and loved the lovely northern tone and humour. Even now when I overhear some lovely strange comment on the bus or in a cafe, I think how Alan Bennet would appreciate that !! The latest "bon mot " I overheard was " I cant finish the cardigan because the daft beggar put the kippers next to the extra ball of wool I'll have to wash it first " (Presumably the ball of wool and not the kippers!) It would be lovely if they reran lots more of his work , something to savour at this time of year. As they say up here "Nowt so queer as folk" and there is always someone to wonder about!!

Such an entrancing man to listen to.. and how patient, imagine having the woman in the van in your driveway for 15 years..

I'm so glad he has such a lovely attentive partner..
Long may he live and share his view of life with us..

Primrose53

Whenever I think of Alan Bennett I imagine an afternoon in late autumn. Outside there’s a chill in the air and the last little bit of sunshine has disappeared. As I walk towards this little cottage there is a carpet of leaves on the road.

I am in a small front room with old fashioned furniture, long curtains and a lovely roaring fire. I settle myself in a chair by the fire, tuck my legs up and get out my AB book. I never want the book to end.

That sounds just about perfect to me.

I have always liked AB. I was quite sad to see him so frail but great that the still has his quick mind.

It's years since I watched the Talking Heads. I had a look on BBC iPlayer and there are quite a few on there. I'm planning to watch them all again. I still remember watching A Woman of No Importance with Patricia Routledge when it was on originally. It was so sad. I have always admired Patricia Routledge. Her comic timing is superb. And Thora Hird.

There is also an Alan Bennett at 80 episode on BBC iPlayer. Hope he makes it to the Alan Bennett at 100

It was repeated last night so I managed to watch it. The part that showed Thora Hird in Talking Heads had me in bits. I don’t think I realised what a great actress she was. What a lovely man he is; I was horrified to hear him talk about being attacked in Italy. When we used to go to the theatre a lot I’d often come away feeling disappointed, but never after an Alan Bennett play. A friend of mine bought a camper van and sent a round Robin to her friends saying ‘coming to a driveway near you, your very on lady in the van’. It could only happen to Alan Bennett could it.

We watched this last night. It was lovely.

The part that showed Thora Hird in Talking Heads had me in bits.
One of my mother's favourite actresses.
I remember the Talking Heads series, each one a masterpiece.

Primrose53
That's lovely. It has to be in Yorkshire 🙂

90 years old ! How time flies. Too fast, just too fast. Talk about times wingèd chariot hurrying near.

My own favourite is A Private Function. Every line a sparkling Alan Bennett gem perfectly delivered by a faultless cast, just so funny and so acutely observed. What genius he has to put down in words something which moves or tickles him about human nature.
I think my favourite quote, of all the many, was him talking about the quirks of his own upbringing on Alan Bennett at 80..."By, Mother, you've given us some script!" Sums him up to a T, Yorkshire and all.

I liked the quote about the aunt who never stopped talking. I think it was his father who said, "I wouldn't mind, but you're nowt further on when she's finished".