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Film An Absurd Genius: N.F. Simpson

  • Pendulum_event_full

Long before Vic and Bob and The Mighty Boosh boys — even predating the Pythons — was N.F. "Wally" Simpson. This maestro of absurdist humour first came into the public eye in 1957, when his play A Resounding Tinkle (about a couple who take delivery of the wrong-sized elephant) opened at the Royal Court to tremendous praise by critics, including that of Kenneth Tynan. His most famous screen work is 1959's One Way Pendulum, which features a bizarre chorus of speak-your-weight machines, but also featured in this short retrospective is a selection of TV plays, plus the small-screen adaptation of Tinkle, starring Billie Whitelaw.

– Lucy Davies