The play was written by Eric Bogosian and is directed by Stewart Lee (his first play since Jerry Springer - The Opera)
Back in the mid 80's, when reality television and shock jock
radio didn't even figure in a card-carrying liberal's most frenzied
nightmare, the cult American character comedian and performance
artist Eric Bogosian penned his play Talk Radio. Today it no
longer reads as a prophecy of broadcasting excess, but as a blackly
funny portrayal of the roots of where we went wrong. Or where
we went right. Depending on your point of view.
Set at an Ohio radio station, acclaimed stand-up Phil Nicol
takes the roll of a late night talk show host Barry Champlain.
Seven more acclaimed comic performers including Mike McShane
play thirty-seven characters, in a phantasmagoric bestiary of
ordinary Americans. Racists, perverts, transvestites, drug addicts,
and Christians. Ordinary, everyday folks. Just like you and I.
