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19 Dec 2006
Contrary to my usual practice of watching or listening to something on TV or radio and then blogging about how brilliant it was when it was all over, I'm actually going to talk about something fantastic in advance, so that you have a sporting chance to see what all the fuss is about.
The National Theatre of Brent are doing one of their unique theatrical productions on BBC Radio 4 at 9pm this Friday: The Messiah. I heard their Complete and Utter History of the Mona Lisa a couple of years ago, and I still laugh when I remember the conversation between Leonardo da Vinci and Botticelli:
Leonardo da Vinci: So what you bin' up to then, Botticelli?
Botticelli: Bin' doin' the paintins.
L: Oh yeah? Which ones you bin' doin' then?
B: Done the Venus.
L: What, on the sofa?
B: Nah, comin' out the shell.
L: Any good?
B: Masterpiece, apparently.
L: How lovely.
For those of you not acquainted with NToB, they are Desmond 'Olivier' Dingle (played by Patrick Barlow), and Raymond Box (John Ramm): two of the most inept thespians (not to mention dodgy historians) you've ever come across. Oh, and they are hilarious. I can't wait to hear how they mangle The Messiah.
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They were even funnier when they were Desmond Olivier-Dingle and Wallace (Jim Broadbent). Several years ago their Christmas production was 'The Greatest Story Ever Told'.
The highlight was a conversation between Jesus (Desmond, obviously) on the cross and Mary. It managed to be unbearably moving and utterly hilarious at the same time. Jim Broadbent was, easily, the best Virgin Mary ever.
by Piers Cawley @ 19/12/2006 10:44 pm • Permalink •
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I would watch Jim Broadbent read the telephone directory. He is a genius.
by ThoughtBadger @ 22/12/2006 12:25 am • Permalink •
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First post this year I've understood! {¬)
Merry Xmas, Mr and Mrs bsag!
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Hello,
I live in Manchester. If you ever appear here I never get to hear about it. I managed to get Mona Lisa recorded but, in an effort to get all the sympathy possible, I was having open heart surgery when your Messiah went out. I asked a friend to record it but he got it wrong! I've phoned the BBC to see if there's to be a repeat but apparently not and as far as I can see there are no commercial recordings available. I want to get hold of any of your stuff that I can.
Any advice?
very best regards David Weekes
by david weekes @ 05/02/2007 1:27 pm • Permalink •
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David Weekes: I think there's been some confusion: I'm not (more's the pity) The National Theatre of Brent (either of them) - just a fan. Hope you've recovered from your surgery. Probably just as well you didn't catch the Messiah just after your operation, because I suspect you would have bust a few surgical staples while laughing. I speak as someone who nearly did the same watching Extras after an operation...
by bsag @ 05/02/2007 6:30 pm • Permalink •
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Not really fair to compare Wallace and Raymond. Both brilliant in own way. Wallace and Sir John the Ambualnce with Raymond " what is your dog's name?" "Fido" "Why did you call him Fido?" " I didn't it was my wife's name. " " So your wife's called Fido?" Both brilliant. Was once privileged to be a slave in a Roman Galley at Secret Policeman's Ball while we helped the National Theatre do the Roman Empire. Wonderful
by Dave Nicholson @ 17/04/2007 10:27 am • Permalink •
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I've been catching up with the NTB on radio 4's series, and they are absolutely hysterical. Didn't realise who they were till I saw you pic above. Really funniest new thing in ages.
by Mike @ 19/04/2007 9:57 am • Permalink •
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after hearing Martin Jarvis reading Richmal Crompton's Just William the other day, i suddenly remembered listening to "The Complete and Utter History of the Mona Lisa" a few years ago which had me having to sit down because i was laughing so much. Is there any way of getting hold of a recording? I'd love to hear it again!
by Gabriel Kan @ 22/04/2007 11:46 am • Permalink •
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Anyone get hold of a recording of the Mona Lisa story mentioned by Gabriel? I have surfed and cannot find it, only more references. I have however got the Greatest Story Ever Told. I recorded it to tape years ago and then when I got into computers plugged in the old tape recorder and converted it to CD. Probably breaking all sorts of copyright but there we go. I am also a Spike Milligan fan, used to go to recordings of the Goons more than fifty years ago. I have a rare two CD’s of Spike live on stage, copied from tape again. My weird sense of humour lead me to realize that www means Weird Wide Web. What you are doing on this message board is weird. Talking to strangers to whom you have not been formerly introduced is not the act of a gentleman or even an archangel,Gabriel. I have a site for contact. www.windsorsoup.co.uk, so if you’ve got Mona Lisa and wanna trade there is an email box
by Arthur Brownwindsor @ 27/04/2007 8:10 am • Permalink •
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Listen, Arthur Brownwindsor, and anyone else who has these NTOB things, get a P2P programme and share them!! Please! I could only find one episode of The Arts and How They Was Done on emule. I must have more, or I will die. Don't do it to me.
by Deliya @ 02/05/2007 6:12 pm • Permalink •
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Quote from upwards.Listen, Arthur Brownwindsor, and anyone else who has these NTOB things, get a P2P programme and share them!! Please! I could only find one episode of The Arts and How They Was Done on emule. I must have more, or I will die. Don't do it to me. Do not die Delilah, that is the last thing you ought to do. But do not know what NTOB is or a P2P is and what an emule is. Heard the programme yesterday and Raymond mentioned last weeks. Not the one I heard
by Arthur Brownwindsor @ 03/05/2007 7:41 am • Permalink •
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http://www.divshare.com/profile/crunchysaviour
http://www.divshare.com/download/687992-2ba
Enjoy. Just spreadin' the NToB love.
by Amiee @ 21/05/2007 7:48 pm • Permalink •
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legendary
by Gabriel Kan @ 26/05/2007 12:52 pm • Permalink •
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Thanks for the info. Got one of the last series, Brontes ,today. But cannot upload my Greatest Story Ever Told. Got it in MP3 format but just freezes. Will keep trying
by Arthur Brownwindsor @ 26/05/2007 1:01 pm • Permalink •
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http://www.divshare.com/download/809533-a37 Gives National Theatre of Brent Greatest Story Ever Told
Say " ta" 2 Arthur. See Arthur doing the incredible English Sword Dance. HERE'S WEIRD. Type Arthur Brownwindsor into Google. See what happens. www=weird wide web
by Arthur Brownwindsor @ 02/06/2007 10:22 am • Permalink •
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Hey, well, ok, I won't die. I didn't even expect anyone to reply, great! P2P is Peer-to-Peer, I think, one of those programmes you get, where you upload files and download files, share them, you know. Emule is one of them. NTOB was just national theatre of Brent... If anyone ever decide to upload anything, that would be wonderful... Thanks to Amiee for the link!!
by Deliya @ 02/06/2007 3:16 pm • Permalink •
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Oh, found them! thanks!
by Deliya @ 02/06/2007 3:19 pm • Permalink •
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Still have not got the Mona Lisa. Got the Mona Ogg. Got the Greatest Story Ever Told up there though now I know what P2P means. Recorded it to tape years ago. Then converted to CD. Then MP3. And I am an oldie. 67 last Saturday. Looking forward to 69 but do not want to wait 2 years ladies. Getting carried away with the technology I am fighting ageism on http://www.divshare.com/download/831436-bf9 And talking of school in the 1950's. When kids carried knives! And had scarves and hats that covered their faces! They even had a gang show! Bloody boy scouts. Eleven plus http://www.divshare.com/download/831457-724
by Arthur Brownwindsor @ 09/06/2007 9:14 am • Permalink •
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Back in May, I heard my first ever National Theatre of Brent show, "Madame Butterfly" - There is no going back for me now - I'm afraid. Like some of your other emailers, I have, since then, been desperate for another fix, can find NO BBC Dvd's of this series, and quite frankly feel it's just out and out cruelty to leave us here without the prospect of hearing them soon. Please tell me how I can get to hear your other classic renditions - Happy New Year - A hopeful fan - Angela Bain
by Angela Bain @ 28/12/2007 3:26 pm • Permalink •
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Revolution!
I've always remembered this as being a brilliant bit of TV. Does anyone know how I could get hold of it? I don't think I've seen it for nearly 20 years :-(
by Andy @ 21/02/2008 9:06 am • Permalink •
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Hi all NTOB fans I have the Brontes which I will upload to divshare shortly. Anyone else have any info on others in the series of the Arts and How they was done??? That is apart from the Messiah as above. What a great series!
by Julian RITCHIE @ 21/02/2008 11:13 am • Permalink •
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the Brontes absolutely hilarious http://www.divshare.com/download/3848072-cd6
by Julian RITCHIE @ 21/02/2008 5:17 pm • Permalink •
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Well, as you may be aware, the NTOB are being repeated on BBC Radio 4 at the moment, with the first in the series of 'The art's and how they was done' being aired yesterday. So, without further ado, here is the first installment of The art's and how they was done....The Birth of Art and How They Done the Cave Paintings.
http://www.divshare.com/download/4008178-6b1
I will update each week with the next installment, so next week is.....How Michelangelo Done the Sistine Chapel
Good day.
by Marcus.A @ 12/03/2008 2:20 pm • Permalink •
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I too shall be updating every week "The Arts & How They Was Done". I also have "The Messiah" & "The Greatest Story Ever Told".
http://www.divshare.com/download/4011901-c03
Enjoy!
-theonlyspoon-
by Andrew Spooner @ 16/03/2008 4:32 pm • Permalink •
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They are right up there with "The Reduced Shakespeare Company"
by Jonathan Briggs @ 19/12/2006 10:42 pm • Permalink •