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AUDIO CD REVIEW: Alan Bennett's On The Margin, BBC Audio Books, £5.95.
A fairly-minor footnote in comedy history is dusted down for a new BBC Audio Books release which mildly amuses without ever quite having you in stitches.
Alan Bennett's On The Margin features highlights from the satirical, political and musical comedy TV sketch show which starred Alan Bennett, John Sergeant and Virginia Stride and was first broadcast in 1966.
It's curious to hear Sergeant in his comedy days, working alongside Bennett– already famous due to Beyond the Fringe and already showing the twin trademarks – twee and camp – on which he has built his career.
Between them, they take plenty of swipes at the Britain of their day, perhaps the outstanding sketch featuring Bennett as the defence counsel quizzing an obviously-guilty lag nicknamed "Fingers" who claims, under Bennett's prompting, to be working as a night-time bathroom-window repairer.
Amusing too is Bennett as the successful writer reflecting on his working-class northern roots – a piece delivered perhaps with a fair amount of prescience.
But while there is plenty to raise a smile, there just isn't the bite you associate with superior pieces from the great decade of post-war British satire. One for the collectors, perhaps.
Phil Hewitt
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Saturday 04 February 2012
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