Bed Among the Lentils

Bed Among The Lentils by Alan Bennett – The Loft October 30 – 2 p.m. Imagine a story that uses humour and poise to talk about dysfunctional relationships, racism, sexism, religious faith, integrity, substance abuse and despair. This is what award winning playwright, Alan Bennett (Lady in the Van) has done in his dramatic monologue Bed Among the Lentils, at The Cobourg Loft on Sunday, October 30 at 2:00 pm. Bed Among the Lentils is a story in five acts of Susan, a disaffected Vicar’s wife in Northern England. Susan faces life with passive aggression. She is unhappy in her relationship with her ambitious and self-centred husband, with her role in the church community and with the people who impose on her. She touches upon clandestine moments of passion and intellectual stimulation, but retreats to mediocrity, at least temporarily. Paul Rapsey, the actor in this production of the Bed Among the Lentils, is a recently retired lawyer, former social worker and a long-time professional actor who has played this role in London, England and in several Canadian communities. Paul admits to being too old by 15 or more years, too heavy by 50 or more pounds, and to being a man, but stereotypes have never hampered his style. He wants the audience to see and experience characters who may be invisible to the eye and he wants to encourage people to visualize wonderful sets in their mind’s eye. “This is the actor’s art,” says Rapsey. The afternoon program will include musical interludes, on cello and violin, by Saskia Tomkins. Tickets are $20.00 + service fee and HST.