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Kurt Vonnegut's Monkey House relies on the same successful strategy behind
Ray Bradbury Theater and
The Twilight Zone: great stories and decent acting, which win out over big-budget production values every time. At first glance,
Monkey House seems just like any of those Canadian productions that air on the Sci-Fi channel late at night, but don't let the inevitable synthesizer soundtrack and Vonnegut's cheesy intro narration fool you. Each story is culled from the short works of a master writer in his prime, guaranteed to amuse and to make you think. Name actors like Ally Sheedy, Madeleine Kahn, Frank Langella, and Jon Cryer deliver convincing performances under some pretty unusual circumstances; split personalities, disembodied heads, and romantic tangles with artificial intelligence are just part of the fun. For viewers familiar with Vonnegut's
Welcome to the Monkey House and
Wampeters, Foma, and Granfalloons, some of the rewrites for television can be puzzling or disappointing (although some, like "Epicac," work quite well). And if you're looking for action-packed, effects-laden sci-fi, this series might not be for you; some of the best stories could take place right here, right now, and feature monsters no more bizarre or unearthly than the human being next door. But thanks to Vonnegut's capable imagination, one realizes how that familiar neighbor can really be more alien than any creature from outer space.
--Grant Balfour
From the Back Cover
"Vonnegut is a zany but moral mad scientist at the controls of a literary time machine." - Time "Our finest black humorist." - The Atlantic Monthly "Exciting, suspenseful... an unadulterated delight." - The Boston Globe Master storyteller Kurt Vonnegut brings you seven fascinating tales from his classic collection of short stories, Welcome to the Monkey House. Richly imaginative, Vonnegut's world includes places where chess games are played with real people and the stakes are life and death; where technology replaces humanity; and where an overheard conversation has potentially fatal consequences. The stories are alternately prophetic and frightening, often humorous, but always provocative and entertaining. Stories include All the King's Horses, The Euphio Question, Next Door, Epicac, Fortitude, More Stately Mansions and The Foster Portfolio. Featuring Alley Sheedy, John Cryer, Frank Langella and Madeline Kahn.
