The extended Gloomsbury Bloomsbury Set included Lady Utterline Immoral Lady Ottoline Morrell who snapped this image of
Nota bene: Since publishing this post I've been honored that Sue Limb, the author of Gloomsbury, has been in touch to say that "You and your acolytes might be pleased to know we are recording a fourth series at the end of September". Naturally, I'm plump with pride to be able to report this world exclusive here on Chronica Domus.
What do Vera Sackcloth-Vest, Ginny Fox, Lady Utterline Immoral, Lytton Scratchy, and Venus Traduces all have in common? Well, you might be interested to learn that they are all characters belonging to that (extended) coterie of writers, artists, and philosophers known as The Bloomsbury Set... I mean, The Gloomsbury Set.
I am currently listening to the re-airing of BBC Radio 4's amusing literary comedy Gloomsbury, which I became aware of a few years ago when it was first broadcast across the airwaves. I would gently encourage you to listen to it too. Sparklingly written by British comedy writer Sue Limb, Gloomsbury comes to life through the marvelous voices of the talented Miriam Margolyes, John Sessions, and Alison Steadman. For those of my readers who are located outside of earshot of the Beeb's radio broadcasts, fear not. You will have an opportunity over the next three weeks to tune in via The Internet. Series 1 is currently streaming to the world so do get thee to the following web site, pronto:
The sitcom is serialized over three six-part installments, each part being thirty minutes long, and parodies the eccentric and oftentimes saucy bohemian goings on of the early twentieth century clique headed by Virginia Woolf, or Ginny Fox as she's known here. Don't you just adore Miss Limb's punny humor in the renaming of her Gloomsbury Set?
Gloomsbury is littered with smart little quips that make reference to the real-life characters of the Bloomsbury Set. Take for example Vera Sackcloth-Vest's instructions to her gardener in the planting of the north border at Sizzlinghurst. As she rattles off a list of nonsensical Italian-sounding plant names (formaggio mezzaluna anyone?), the dear fellow is prompted to ask "will that be pink or cream". "Cream of course, man!" comes the snippy response, "I won't have pink anywhere near Sizzlinghurst".
The famous white garden at Sissinghurst Castle, created by Ms. Sackville-West, is one of England's most visited gardens
Oh, and the production team could not have selected a more fitting piece of music for the theme song. Won't you take a listen for yourself?
I think Dorothy Parker described The Bloomsbury Set perfectly with her bon mot "they lived in squares, painted in circles, and loved in triangles". If all this talk of squares and circles has piqued your interest, do please tune in for some radio high-jinks. I'm sure you too will soon be delightfully amused, if not downright confused, by all the triangles.
