Allison Symes's Blog - Posts Tagged "bleak-expectations"
Spoofs
I’ve recently watched a wonderful play (Bleak Expectations) based on the works on Dickens, of course. The show itself was based on a Radio 4 comedy from many years ago and that and the play are written by the same man.
There were many wonderful references to lines by Dickens, book titles etc in the play, which I loved. It was great fun spotting them!
But this led to me thinking about spoofs in general. Many are based on books - Bored of the Rings, anyone? (There is also A Midsummer Nightmare out there).
What I hope is the case here is the spoof comes about as a result of a genuine love for the author/books being spoofed. That is definitely the case with Bleak Expectations and if you get the chance to hear the radio series or go and see the play I heartily recommend it. Loads of laughs too!
I wonder if any of these spoofs have led to people discovering the authors of the original works? I would like to think so.
One of my favourite moments from the long running Radio Four series, I‘m Sorry I Haven’t a Clue is when they have a books round and usually the players have to add a word to the title or take a word away to come up with a totally different book. I’ve often thought some of the titles they come up with for this would make excellent spoofs.
A well done spoof then, I think, can add to the pleasure of reading in general. Certainly Bleak Expectationshas reminded me of Dickens’ titles I need to check out again!
There were many wonderful references to lines by Dickens, book titles etc in the play, which I loved. It was great fun spotting them!
But this led to me thinking about spoofs in general. Many are based on books - Bored of the Rings, anyone? (There is also A Midsummer Nightmare out there).
What I hope is the case here is the spoof comes about as a result of a genuine love for the author/books being spoofed. That is definitely the case with Bleak Expectations and if you get the chance to hear the radio series or go and see the play I heartily recommend it. Loads of laughs too!
I wonder if any of these spoofs have led to people discovering the authors of the original works? I would like to think so.
One of my favourite moments from the long running Radio Four series, I‘m Sorry I Haven’t a Clue is when they have a books round and usually the players have to add a word to the title or take a word away to come up with a totally different book. I’ve often thought some of the titles they come up with for this would make excellent spoofs.
A well done spoof then, I think, can add to the pleasure of reading in general. Certainly Bleak Expectationshas reminded me of Dickens’ titles I need to check out again!
