Do3 - Repeats

[french frank]

The latest repeat:

Sunday 29 May: gone by Debbie Tucker Green

[Russ]

Sunday 29 May: gone by Debbie Tucker Green

Seems like there's been a bit of rescheduling going on, because this Sunday's offering is now Dreams and Censorship, by David Pownall. This comes from R4 February 1993 via a stopover on R7 in October last year, and it's appearance now in the Do3 stable is rather intriguing. (I'm in favour of this kind of swapping around, actually, because I hope it can lessen any perceived 'divides' between station 'loyalties'. Sorry that last sentence was a bit rubbish, but u know wot I mean.)

I'm a big David Pownall fan usually, and whilst this is good, I wasn't completely bowled over by it. Technically, there has been some debate as to whether the BBC chopped up or speeded up the original R4 tape when it got redone for R7, and there is certainly an over-hurried feel about it. Anyway, at least it is better than the originally-scheduled Gone, which didn't do anything for me.

Here's a contemporary Indie review of Dreams and Censorship.

Russ

[affenkopf]

Seems like there's been a bit of rescheduling going on, because this Sunday's offering is now Dreams and Censorship, by David Pownall. This comes from R4 February 1993 via a stopover on R7 in October last year, and it's appearance now in the Do3 stable is rather intriguing. (I'm in favour of this kind of swapping around, actually, because I hope it can lessen any perceived 'divides' between station 'loyalties'. Sorry that last sentence was a bit rubbish, but u know wot I mean.)

I'm a big David Pownall fan usually, and whilst this is good, I wasn't completely bowled over by it. Technically, there has been some debate as to whether the BBC chopped up or speeded up the original R4 tape when it got redone for R7, and there is certainly an over-hurried feel about it. Anyway, at least it is better than the originally-scheduled Gone, which didn't do anything for me.

Here's a contemporary Indie review of Dreams and Censorship.

Russ

According to the link you posted this originally aired on Radio 3 not 4. Station loyalties remain in place. ;)

[french frank]

Given that it was recently broadcast on R7, and that R3 never (well, hardly ever) broadcasts plays from the archive, I'd say there was a hitch over the Tucker Green play and they had to pull it at the last moment. The Pownall play was available so they slipped it in ... Ha! conspiracies, conspiracies! (I wonder what the real reason is? )

[Russ]

According to the link you posted this originally aired on Radio 3 not 4. Station loyalties remain in place. ;)

Yep. Sorry. My mistake. I should have read my links better!

Russ

[aeolium]

Here's a contemporary Indie review of Dreams and Censorship.

I thought this was a very disappointing play - dodgy historically as the Indie review suggested but also simply unconvincing. Once again I found myself wondering why on earth do contemporary playwrights try to write historical plays, with language, ideas and behaviour invariably anachronistic. It's the dramatic equivalent of a full-size orchestra playing Monteverdi as if there had been no HIPP movement - everything about the language and drama is utterly unconvincing. It's not as though the idea behind this play was especially interesting - the play within the play was completely lifeless and listening to Robert Stephens reminded me how irritating his performances on radio invariably were.

I've heard some good work by David Pownall but for me this was a complete lemon.

[It wasn't David Pownall who directed the ENO Busoni Doktor Faust but David Pountney ]

[string]

The latest repeat:

Sunday 29 May: gone by Debbie Tucker Green

Shame it got replaced. I unexpectedly like 'Gone' first time around and wish I'd taped it to keep. I did tape 'Dreams and Censorship' first time around and then taped over it because I unexpectedly didn't like it. I gave it another go and still didn't fancy it 18 years on! I've been happy with the other recent repeats though as they were mainly plays I missed first time around. 'Giovanni's Room' was particularly good I though.

Am I the only person who doesn't get 'Smiley'? I tried it on 4 and I've tried again on 4 Extra and I still can't make it past about half an hour of programme one. Maybe I should read the book...?

Edit: just realised it isn't 'Gone' I liked but 'Handprint' by the same writer which was on around 2006.

Also, with all these repeats how come there has never been a repeat of 'The Pitman Painters' which was on at xmas 07? I was away so couldn't tape it at the time and as far as I know it has never come up again.