New Forest Players 
Forest Arts Centre, New Milton 
Jade Morrell 
19 February 2025
Talking Heads by Alan Bennett is a highly acclaimed collection of monologues that was first aired on BBC television in 1988 and later followed by a second series in 1998. It has since been adapted for stage and print, cementing its reputation as a modern classic in British drama. There are three monologues performed here. ‘A Lady of Letters’ – A lonely spinster’s obsessive letter-writing lands her in unexpected trouble. ‘A Cream Cracker Under the Settee’– A elderly widow finds solace from her unfulfilling marriage and finally ‘Her Big Chance’ – An actress reflects on her career, unaware of the exploitation she has endured.
We begin with ‘‘A Lady of Letters’ and Lotte Fletcher-Jonk is superb as Irene Ruddock’s one-woman Neighbourhood Watch scheme, that somehow gets out of hand. It’s not the observations of her neighbours that get her into trouble; it’s the bombardment of letters that she sends to the authorities that get ridiculously unruly.
The monologue concludes with a wonderfully farcical ending where the audience was almost relieved for her! Lotte really took the audience on a love/hate relationship throughout. How best to describe Irene. These pieces were written in the eighties, but if it was written today, Irene would probably be an internet troll. Fabulously portrayed.
Wendy Beaumont was faultless in the script for ‘A Cream Cracker Under the Settee’, and really embodied the role of ‘Doris’ who suffers a fall after trying to clear up after her not-so-thorough home help, Zulema. Alone and injured, she wonders whether the only place left for her in society is a care home which she distrusts. It is a poignant tale, which makes you really feel for Doris.
What I loved was that her movement is greatly restricted which makes Wendy’s performance even more impressive and completely convincing. There is a small amount of time to reflect on Bennett’s writing, which only dates because of the lack of digital references, the story of mental health and loneliness is still as fresh today as it was when it was written back in the late 1980s.
After the interval, the audience was treated to ‘Her Big Chance’ a piece made famous by Julie Walters in the original television adaptation and more recently by Jodie Comer. In this production, Rachel Mackay brought her own engaging interpretation of Lesley, the aspiring actress. After a series of unpromising extra roles on TV programmes such as Crossroads, she finds what she believes to be her big break as the adventurous ‘Travis’ in a new film for the West German market.
It is not clear to what extent Lesley understands quite what sort of film she is appearing in…the clues are in what is unsaid. Rachel delivers her character’s story in a completely compelling way, convincingly portraying Travis’s blindness to the sinister undertones of the narrative, as well as the self-delusions and gullibility.
It’s the opposite of confessional “reality” TV and this was especially so in this performance. Rachel clarified the scene, but the audience joined up the dots as to what was going on – costume changes added to the characterisation of what again, was a terrific performance.
At this point, acknowledgement must be paid to the director and her team. Janet Courtice let this production breathe. This play could have ended up as some northern parody but instead this was well disciplined and has allowed the actors to make each role their own. With impeccable timing and a keen understanding of Bennett’s signature wit and melancholy, they ensured every word resonated. A masterclass in storytelling, this production was a triumph for both cast and audiences.
Talking Heads runs until Saturday 22nd February and I heartily recommend.
