A creative writing competition was held inviting local writers to create a short monologue inspired by the play which was due to open the Bolton Octagon's new season in it's new building, but sadly COVID 19 stopped play. The ten winning entries had their writings recorded by local professional actors and actresses and a selection will be broadcast on BBC Radio Manchester. Here we look at the final three.
The 8th monologue in this series is titled, 'Roots' and is written by Linda Downs, here read by Shaban Dar. It tells a rather Romatic and cinematic story of a Pakistani family uprooting and traveling to Bolton to make a better life. How they worked hard and were able to ingratiate themselves into the new culture, landscape and language of Bolton, making the mix of their two cultures work in their favour, becoming richer and more educated. The monologue leaves us with a sense of hope as the third generation Pakistanis now start to grow up in a changed and multi-cultural landscape.
The penultimate monologue is 'The Same' by Lorraine Knockton, and read by Karla Marie Sweet. It is a memory of the protagonist's first real experience of her true sexuality as she enters an all-female disco in the late 1980s. She's a wife, a mother, and yet, here she exposes her vulnerability and her hidden sexuality.
I was very uncertain as to why the choice had been made to change the word 'breast' in the text for 'skin'. Breast makes far more sense, and is much more evocative, meaningful and poignant.
I was very uncertain as to why the choice had been made to change the word 'breast' in the text for 'skin'. Breast makes far more sense, and is much more evocative, meaningful and poignant.
The fianl monologue was leaving the best until last - at least, the best written that is. 'The Queen Of Bolton Baths' was written by Pegeen Murphy and read by Ruth Madeley. As in the previous monologue, but more obvious in this one, the sound effects were interruptive and unnecessary, making it harder to hear to words and interpret the meaning for ourselves.
In fact Murphy's script was a pure delight, full of word-play, clever alliterations, and intelligently placed contemporary puns. [I loved the mint imperial for example!] sadly however, neither director nor performer managed to make Murphy's words come to life from the page. Reading the script myself it was full of humour and sparkle, besides a rather more sobering overlay. They did not manage unfortunately to elicit all the lovely double-entrendre meanings and puns which were there for the taking in this poetic text. Shame.
In fact Murphy's script was a pure delight, full of word-play, clever alliterations, and intelligently placed contemporary puns. [I loved the mint imperial for example!] sadly however, neither director nor performer managed to make Murphy's words come to life from the page. Reading the script myself it was full of humour and sparkle, besides a rather more sobering overlay. They did not manage unfortunately to elicit all the lovely double-entrendre meanings and puns which were there for the taking in this poetic text. Shame.
Reviewer - Matthew Dougall
on - 4/9/20
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