by Eugene Ionesco translated by DONALD WATSON
Produced by R. D. SMITH
Third broadcast
There is no prima donna in La Cantarice Chauve and no one who is bald. It seemed, therefore, an apt title for the play which came to lonesco when, in 1948, he was teaching himself English from a do-it-yourself phrase-book. Conscientiously he copied out whole sentences from his primer. When he re-read them attentively ne did not learn English but he was impressed by what they told him. He had not before seriously considered the fact that there are seven days in a week, or that the floor is up and the ceiling down. He was even more impressed by the platitudes of a Mr. and Mrs. Smith and their friends who were introduced to liven up the lesson. The emptiness of conventional life overwhelmed him ...