Author:John Finnemore,Benedict Cumberbatch,Roger Allam,Stephanie Cole,John Finnemore,Full Cast
Cabin Pressure is set in the wing and a prayer world of a tiny, one-plane charter airline; staffed by two pilots, one on his way down, and one who was never up to start with. Whether flying a nervous bassoonist to Gdansk or a horrible sister to Helsinki, no job is too small, but many, many jobs are too difficult.
Carolyn Knapp-Shappey, MJN Air's formidable boss, has employed two of the very cheapest pilots money can buy: Captain Martin Crieff, who's always wanted to fly and won't let a little thing like lack of ability stop him, and First Officer Douglas Richardson, smooth-voiced old sky god and eternal schemer. Passenger service is provided by the relentlessly cheery Arthur, proud inventor of both Surprising Rice and his own hat.
Written by John Finnemore (John Finnemore's Souvenir Programme, The Now Show), Cabin Pressure stars Stephanie Cole as Carolyn, Benedict Cumberbatch as Martin, Roger Allam as Douglas and John Finnemore as Arthur.
‘The more I listen to John Finnemore's Cabin Pressure, the more I think what a stonking masterpiece it is. Perfect in every department.’ – Philip Pullman
'Unexpectedly brilliant' - Time Out
'An inspired new sitcom' – Observer
3 CDs. 2 hrs 47 mins.
really funny
—— Gillian Reynolds , Daily TelegraphThe more I listen to John Finnemore's Cabin Pressure, the more I think what a stonking masterpiece it is. Perfect in every department.
—— Philip PullmanAt once poignant and hilarious
—— Dorian Lynskey , Word MagazineA welcome contrast to the current trend of macho post-rehab confessions by tedious hard-rock narcissists
—— GuardianA seamless, authentic, exhilarating read, without a single slack paragraph. I inhaled it like WD40 round the back of Lidl
—— Camilla Long , Sunday TimesThis is a rare book on magic: it doesn’t unmask tricks. Instead, it exposes the strange subculture surrounding magicians and magic and the murky realms they rub up against…This book is clever and winning — and it’s well written, too...In turning our attention away from the magic and towards the magicians, Stone has pulled off an excellent trick.
—— Sunday TimesA journalist with a background in science neatly describes the tricks of the magician’s trade…The book, of course, treats magic more as science than superstition, and here Stone’s point is well made…A peek behind the curtain…As he shows us the limits of our logic, Stone’s enthusiasm rubs off.
—— Financial Timesfascinating … As an American science journalist, Stone is certainly interested in what magic reveals about our mental make-up – and very good indeed at writing comprehensibly about it. But as a magician himself, he’s a huge and infectious fan of the whole business. As a result, he plunges us deep in the history, traditions and lore of a world that, by its very nature, is normally kept secret from the layman. He exposes the techniques used by people who pretend not to be magicians – including psychics of all kinds. He also introduces us to an enormous cast of colourful characters, past and present.
—— Readers DigestThe book is not a how-to guide, but it delves into the psychology and cognitive science behind magic…Aspiring pick-pockets will enjoy his explanation of how to misdirect someone’s attention while removing their watch.
—— Times 2The real pleasure of his beguiling, meandering narrative is not the destination but the rococo scenery en route. ****
—— Francis Wheen , Mail on Sunday