Wow! I don't know how Alan Bennett does it. I didn't think that anything could top Maggie Smith in "Bed Among the Lentils", but this one is pretty powerful. Just like Dame Maggie, Penelope Wilton was able to convey the majority of her emotions in her eyes. She's calmly telling her story without all of the emotional drama, but the eyes tell you how much pain, loneliness and betrayal she's feeling. This was a clinic in what acting is all about.
The writing. The performance. Utter perfection. Total art. It stays with you. We don't see Fran or Henry - but we know them. We 'see' them. Tour de force. All the injustice and pain in life tightly wound in the most sublime story. And that last line? Devastating.
One of the sadder Talking Heads in my opinion. Here, Rosemary was unhappy in marriage but found a new life with the friendship of a woman many thought to be a cold-blooded murderer. The last bit where she talks about the plants that thrive in the shade really shows her feelings of her and Fran's friendship. I also like the contrast between Rosemary's house filled with plants and light then when they move to Spain the house has bars on the windows and is shaded slightly. It definitely makes it feel, as Rosemary put it, that she's now in prison.
After this monologue ended, I realisd that I had quite forgotten that it was Penelope Wilton I had been watching, she had so become the charactor she was playing.
I'm floored by her ability to perform so splendidly while sitting in a chair the whole time. Same with all of the other actresses. (Certainly, the scripts help 😉.)
One of the best shows of all time. ❤ Thank you for sharing these with us
I've watched. Many times. I'm in awe of her talent. Sensitive & telling. I've saved so I can watch again & again.
Wow! I don't know how Alan Bennett does it. I didn't think that anything could top Maggie Smith in "Bed Among the Lentils", but this one is pretty powerful. Just like Dame Maggie, Penelope Wilton was able to convey the majority of her emotions in her eyes. She's calmly telling her story without all of the emotional drama, but the eyes tell you how much pain, loneliness and betrayal she's feeling. This was a clinic in what acting is all about.
Oh yes!!!!!
It's true. It also helps when you have Penelope Wilton's large, beautiful eyes.
Penelope Wilton is wonderful beyond words.
The writing. The performance. Utter perfection. Total art.
It stays with you. We don't see Fran or Henry - but we know them. We 'see' them.
Tour de force. All the injustice and pain in life tightly wound in the most sublime story.
And that last line? Devastating.
Fabulous!!! MsWilton is in my top ten favorites.
Masterful. Utterly brilliant performance and writing and directing the sadness of life.....
One of the sadder Talking Heads in my opinion. Here, Rosemary was unhappy in marriage but found a new life with the friendship of a woman many thought to be a cold-blooded murderer. The last bit where she talks about the plants that thrive in the shade really shows her feelings of her and Fran's friendship. I also like the contrast between Rosemary's house filled with plants and light then when they move to Spain the house has bars on the windows and is shaded slightly. It definitely makes it feel, as Rosemary put it, that she's now in prison.
The metaphor of plants in the shade struck me too.
Crushingly sad..what a performance...thank you for bringing this to you tube
This was spellbinding......magnificent performance by Penelope....
Im speechless.........thank you Penelope
These are just beautiful. Words cannot express my admiration for AB, and these actors.
Oh what a powerful actor Ms Wilton is, bless her.
After this monologue ended, I realisd that I had quite forgotten that it was Penelope Wilton I had been watching, she had so become the charactor she was playing.
As it should be. As it should be
What a treasure - this is what art is all about
I'm floored by her ability to perform so splendidly while sitting in a chair the whole time. Same with all of the other actresses. (Certainly, the scripts help 😉.)
Brilliant, many thanks for posting.
Thank you for the upload!
Such a beautiful and sad story, conveyed masterfully.
Wow. Just incredibly wow. Thank you so much for sharing this. I never saw these when they first came out and I'm so grateful to get a chance now.
So very lovely and so very sad! Everything about this is brilliant!
Heartbreaking, brilliant.
She is an amazing actress.
This was awesome. Thank you so much for sharing it with us!
Brilliant.
Penelope wilton is brillant
Extreme,ly surprised there were six people that didn’t find this excellent.
I saw this actress when I was a boy. She was playing Arkadina in Chekhov's The Seagull, at Stratford.
Wonderful!
Exquisite
This series is amazing but soo sad in places 😢
A lot of Bennett's writings seem to go that way.
perfection x
Wow.
What a gem!
Just wow,
Profound
"Young lady."
Brilliant.