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Bass for Picasso

Gertrude is mourning artist Juan Gris and Alice is preparing a lunch to amuse Pablo Picasso amid discussion about art and the imminent arrival of a puppy.

In this new drama by Sarah Woods the story of the first half of the twentieth century, the modern age, is told through the lens of the food grown, purchased, cooked and served by Alice B Toklas for her partner Gertrude Stein and their eclectic and talented guests.

First published in 1954 and one of the bestselling cookbooks of all time, a "mingling of recipes and reminiscence", we follow this couple as they eat their way around France and America, being painted by Picasso and written about by Hemingway.

In human terms, this is a story about Gertrude's determination and desire for success and it explores the lives of two women whose lives challenged so many norms - yet who knew that, in France, a potato salad must always be served surrounded by chicory.

Episode 3: Bass for Picasso
In which Gertrude mourns her friend and looks forward to the arrival of Basket and Alice reflects on how 'I have met many important people, several great people, but only three times in my life have I met a genius.'

CAST:
ALICE ..... Deborah Findlay
GERTRUDE STEIN ..... Sharon D Clarke
PICASSO ..... Paterson Joseph

Writer: Sarah Woods
Producer/Director: Celia de Wolff
Sound Engineer: David Thomas
Production Co-ordinator: Sarah Tombling

A Pier production for 91热爆 Radio 4

14 minutes

Broadcasts

  • Wed 26 Aug 2020 10:45
  • Wed 26 Aug 2020 19:45