ON THE MARGIN

This one-hour audio is all that remains of a six-part BBC comedy sketch TV show written by Bennett (now best known as a playwright) and first broadcast in 1966. In a very British—and pleasing—way it mixes dry wit, satire, and broad—even low—comedy in a series of one- to three-person scenes that tend to end abruptly. The pronunciation of some words may leave Americans baffled, as will many of the cultural/topical references. (They may even puzzle contemporary Brits—do even they recall Marghanita Laski?) But anyone who enjoys this sort of thing will find this a tasty little slice of British comedy and will be grateful that at least this much survived. W.M. © AudioFile 2010, Portland, Maine [Published: OCTOBER 2010]