“Nourish The Beast” is probably my favorite play of all time. My mother and I saw it on PBS almost 40 years ago, and we’ve never forgotten it. The slack-jawed delight of it has never faded, and it’s on my bucket list to will a copy of it into existence so we can watch it again.
Here is a link to it on IMDB, for all the good that does me. I’ve Googled until my Googler is sore, but I can’t find a video recording of that performance. ~sigh~
The title comes from the scene in which Goya (the main character) and her current husband, Mario (who came in answer to an ad: “Wanted. A man”, which delighted him because here was finally a position for which he was qualified), discuss the matters that need to be attended to. One is feeding the dog. Mario writes it down as “nourish the beast”; if he should drop dead in the street, he would like anyone who searches his pockets to find such a note.
ZOMG I love this play!!!
Here is a link to the publisher, Samuel French, which is where I bought the copy I gave my mother. And here is a link to a PDF of one of the scenes turned into a monologue. And here is a link to a wonderful actor named Alex Robertson doing a stellar job performing that monologue.
I’m trying to get my meathooks on a video of that PBS performance. In researching this post (Yes, I do research them; I bet you thought I must made them up out of my head), I found that the UCLA Film & TV Archive has preserved it, and I’ve tweeted them on Twitter asking where I can get a copy. They’ll probably make me one for eleventy bazillion bucks. Ah, well, I can but try.
A WRITING PROMPT FOR YOU: A character writes a want ad for an unusual object, or writes an unusual ad for a common object.
MA
Brogan Thomsen
December 13, 2023 at 1:34amMe Too.
Saw it PBS in Texas I think. That’s my review on IMDB signed in as Borg22
Seem to remember it was a HOLLYWOOD TELEVISION THEATRE PRODUCTION….so your mention of LA could fit. BroganfromSeattle.
Marian Allen
December 13, 2023 at 9:17amI would love to see it again. I can’t find it anywhere.
Bud Weiser, WTIT
May 15, 2021 at 9:25pmMy favorite play as well. I had an audio cassette of the PBS performance but lost it in the 80s. My family got together to record it as a radio version, and it lives on again…
Marian Allen
May 16, 2021 at 9:39amOne day, I will have a tape of the teleplay with Eileen Brennen. Goals, man.
Mary
August 22, 2012 at 6:32pmI really like the prompt. Really gets the thoughts going. The play sounds wonderful.
Marian Allen
August 22, 2012 at 9:28pmMary, if you ever get the chance to see or read the play, DO. 🙂 Thanks for stopping by, and for your kind words about the prompt. I provide one every day.