tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3737235139994190228.post2003930445797234946..comments2024-01-10T00:07:48.304+00:00Comments on Cathode Ray Tube: ARMCHAIR THEATRE: Volume One / ReviewFrank Collinshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00680654042528560764noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3737235139994190228.post-88059582096930767402010-04-02T19:50:11.408+01:002010-04-02T19:50:11.408+01:00I ordered this set after reading your review a cou...I ordered this set after reading your review a couple of months ago, but it arrived just as I became extremely busy, so I've only seen the first two plays so far. I'm looking forward to watching more soon.<br /><br />The Welland is very good, with lovely performances from Madge Ryan and Susan Jameson. Its progress from comedy of manners to feral battle of wills is gripping. Fay Weldon's play is indeed less successful, maybe because it's less claustrophobic (there are moments when you wonder why one character or another doesn't just say "Stuff this, I'm going home"), but still full of sharp observation.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3737235139994190228.post-58074136841582665282010-01-16T11:02:04.201+00:002010-01-16T11:02:04.201+00:00Thanks Paul. A set worth getting for at least four...Thanks Paul. A set worth getting for at least four of the productions. 'Red Riding Hood' is extraordinary, 'Brown Skin Gal' is a superb exercise in tension building and 'Say Goodnight To Your Grandma' is Welland at his best. The other are a bit hit and miss for me but that's what you'd expect from an anthology series. <br /><br />If it is 'Play For Today/Armchair Theatre' style stuff you're after then SkyArts is the place. They've just decided to expand their 'Theatre Live' run of plays into a 'Play For Today' style series. Murdoch's taking the BBC on at its own game!Frank Collinshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00680654042528560764noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3737235139994190228.post-58528703360660950192010-01-16T01:21:35.051+00:002010-01-16T01:21:35.051+00:00Good review Frank; I'm working my way through ...Good review Frank; I'm working my way through my own review copy of the plays too and am struck by how intimate they feel - one of the strengths of the old videotape style of TV-making. I'd really love to see ITV trying something like this now, one-hour plays, low-budget, basically theatre productions on the screen. But I suppose unless they could crowbar some phone voting into it they wouldn't be interested. Good stuff though.Paul Mounthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07633402797573408873noreply@blogger.com