Green Wing

I love the comedy-drama series Green Wing.

Rather than try and explain the plot, I’ve decided to simply link to Wikipedia entry for it.

Here it is: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Green_Wing

And here are some samples of its humour:

http://www.channel4.com/programmes/green-wing/4od#2921927

There’s a great box set of ALL of the episodes and extras available here:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Green-Wing-Complete-Collection-DVD/dp/B000T2MZ48/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=dvd&qid=1257207037&sr=1-1

It’s a fantastically funny series. If you like Spaced, Shaun of the Dead, Hot Fuzz, Flight of the Conchords, Black Books, The Comic Strip Presents…, Extras, The Office, then you’ll like Green Wing.

www.rjdent.com

The Quantum Physicist’s Revenge

The Quantum Physicist’s Revenge is a humorous short story written in February 2009.

It is about a quantum physicist who ‘discovers’ proof that God is dead. This annoys one particular deity very much – and He decides to do something about it. The story was first published in Writer’s Muse.

If you’d like to read The Quantum Physicist’s Revenge, then please click on the link below:

http://authspot.com/short-stories/the-quantum-physicists-revenge/

Other examples of R J Dent’s short  stories can be read at:

http://www.rjdent.com/shortstories.htm

Enjoy.

www.rjdent.com

Waiting For Godot by Samuel Beckett

 

 

 

One of the best plays I’ve ever seen performed is Samuel Beckett’s Waiting For Godot.

 

The latest production, which stars Sir Ian McKellen as Estragon (Gogo), and Patrick Stewart as Vladimir (Didi), is currently touring the UK.

 

Simon Callow and Ronald Pickup also star (as Pozzo and Lucky respectively).

 

This particular production of Waiting For Godot certainly benefits from having such talented actors star in it – for McKellen and Stewart are able to successfully mine Beckett’s rather bleak tragic-comic play for its humorous elements.

 

During one of the performances, Gogo (played by McKellen) rolled up his trouser legs and took off his shoes. He then walked across the stage with a ministry-of-silly-walks-style gait – and it was obvious that Ian McKellen was enjoying himself immensely. It was at that point that I realized I was watching a Knight of the Realm at work. I suddenly found the whole thing as bizarre and as surreal as anything Samuel Beckett could have dreamed up.

 

After one of the performances, McKellen and Stewart did a mock-impromptu soft-shoe shuffle. It was all a bit music-hall, but very funny and quite moving, despite that.

 

The set is amazing – a ruined building in the background and the stage as a piece of waste ground with a single tree growing in it – that’s all there is, but it’s all that’s needed.

 

One criticism: if there is anything superfluous, it’s the sound effects. They’re not at all necessary and detract a little from the seriousness of the play.

 

Aside: On the way out of the theatre I heard a 65-ish year old woman with blue hair and a fur coat proclaim: ‘Well, I’ve seen a lot of drama in my time and that was, without doubt, the worst play I’ve ever seen.’

 

As for me, well I enjoyed the play and the superlative performances immensely. I had a wonderful evening. Waiting For Godot is funny, moving, tragic, serious, flippant and comic. The current production is worth going to see. Don’t miss the opportunity. The quality of the acting alone is worth the price of admission.

 

Here’s the official Waiting For Godot website:

 

http://www.waitingforgodottheplay.com/home/

 

I hope you get a chance to see it – it’s absolutely superb.

 

 

www.rjdent.com

 

 

9/11 Considered as the First Turn in a Game of Darts

 

 

 

Here is a one-page short story I’ve written about the noble game of darts. Its title is: 9/11 Considered as the First Turn in a Game of Darts

 

I hope you enjoy it. Just click on the link below to read it: 

http://www.newsflavor.com/Satire/911-Considered-as-the-First-Turn-in-a-Game-of-Darts.98294

I wrote it for several reasons:

 

I’ve always loved and admired Alfred Jarry’s story The Crucifixion Considered as an Uphill Bicycle Race;

 

I’ve always loved and admired J G Ballard’s story The Assassination of John Fitzgerald Kennedy Considered as a Downhill Motor Race;

 

I’ve always wanted to write a satirical short story in which I combined a huge world disaster with a game of concentration, skill and coordination. When 9/11 occurred, darts was the sport that immediately suggested itself. Once I had the flight numbers, the rest was easy.

  

If you like it, there are more of my stories at:

 

http://www.rjdent.com/shortstories.htm

Happy reading.

 

www.rjdent.com