The Stuff of Life did go on a bit, it's true. Not without value but it did seem to take the long path around the park, if I can put it like that... and it wasn't a particularly profound or original park either!
The biggest problem with The Life of Stuff was that, IIRC, the chap that wrote it also directed the stageplay to quite good reviews. When it came time to choose the director for the film, rather than get someone who knew film, he got the nod. The end result was a film that used a few sets where the action was and any off stage action being talked about. In film medium this could have been done better by shooting scenes rather than dialog. Mind you it has been over 10 years since I saw it, so I may have misremembered it.