Gloomsbury

[Guest]

I realize that recommending Radio 4 comedy shows is a risky business...
As the title suggests, Sue Limb's latest pastiche has in its sights a certain literary group that flourished some 80 to 90 years ago. (Anybody who's ever enjoyed 'The Wordsmiths at Gorsemere' will certainly feel at home). Episode 1 is now on the iPlayer; episode 2 will air on Radio 4 at 1130 on Friday 5th October.

[Pianorak]

Being a Bloomsberrie nerd I quite enjoyed the first episode. Margolyes, Steadman and Sessions firing on all cylinders.

[Frances_iom]

as long as you don't cry "Woolf" too often !

[vinteuil]

... yes, I enjoyed. But I wondered how much it was a "knowing" enjoyment - I mean, wd it be much fun for listeners not already up to speed with the improbable lives of Violet Trefusis - Leonard Woolf - Vita Sackville-West - Harold Nicolson et alia ? ...

[Paul Sherratt]

for pianorak and other nerds

http://jezebel.com/5339300/the-sound-waves

It's the real thing.

[Pianorak]

Thanks, Paul. I seem to remember having heard that clip many years ago.

[Nick Armstrong]

... yes, I enjoyed. But I wondered how much it was a "knowing" enjoyment - I mean, wd it be much fun for listeners not already up to speed with the improbable lives of Violet Trefusis - Leonard Woolf - Vita Sackville-West - Harold Nicolson et alia ? ...

I think the answer is yes... I know only the outlines - the names, the general atmos - and I imagine the majority of R4 listeners would have at least the same if not greater knowledge - and the enjoyment was high at Caliban Towers

Having recorded the first two, I caught up this weekend - and love it. Margolyes and Steadman on full song, what a treat - and some pretty funny writing, far more hits than misses.

Forthcoming episodes will be a highlight of each week (I see Ep. 3 is already on the iPlayer )

PS: Last but not least: a BIG thanks to Northender for drawing my attention to it all!! The 'recommendation risk' paid off handsomely in my case, to my gratitude

[Northender]

You're welcome!

[ardcarp]

... yes, I enjoyed. But I wondered how much it was a "knowing" enjoyment - I mean, wd it be much fun for listeners not already up to speed with the improbable lives of Violet Trefusis - Leonard Woolf - Vita Sackville-West - Harold Nicolson et alia ? ...

Agreed, but surely R4 ought to be congratulated on daring to produce a programme that isn't totally 'inclusive'? It goes against the trend by not dumbing down and by not assuming everybody is totally ignorant of everything. It's a fun show, so well done R4.

[Nick Armstrong]

Episode 3 considerably less amusing than 1 & 2, I thought - the writing not as witty, and the absence of Alison Steadman's 'Mrs Gosling' was significant...

[Nick Armstrong]

I've been following this - variable I would say. Episodes 1 & 2 and also 4 very good, 3 and 5 less so - I think because in the latter, the action moves away from the Sackcloth-Vest family seat Sizzlinghurst, and the Goslings are absent. The writing for Mr and Mrs Gosling is the best of all, and Alison Steadman as Mrs Gosling is the best thing about the show.

Having said that, AS does a great turn also as the unrecognisably posh Virginia Fox - it's just that the writing's not as funny - bar the odd cracking line like:

- Henry's going to Montenegro

- He's going to do what??

(Probably an old one... but I'd never heard it before...)

[mercia]

perhaps repeating views already expressed, for its full comic impact it does rather depend on one's knowledge of the Bloomsbury set

I think my knowledge is limited to that TV drama from a few years back [ Portrait of a Marriage] and visits to Sissinghurst and Knole. But at least I now know Virginia didn't like loud noises. Most of the names are witty, but why is D H Lawrence called Lollipop ?

[Nick Armstrong]

why is D H Lawrence called Lollipop ?

Yes, that was silly I thought - a 'miss'...

[eighthobstruction]

Listened to it for the first time this week....laughed out loud when she became hysterical that the flowers were a more deep colour than they should have been....

Had some posh friends once (still), the mother, when the children really misbehaved, threatened them with the punishment of "not having fresh flowers in the house for 2 weeks"

[Nick Armstrong]

Listened to it for the first time this week....laughed out loud when she became hysterical that the flowers were a more deep colour than they should have been....

Had some posh friends once (still), the mother, when the children really misbehaved, threatened them with the punishment of "not having fresh flowers in the house for 2 weeks"