Noël Coward: BBC Radio Drama Collection
from archive.org
Ten BBC radio full-cast productions of No?l Coward's classic plays.
Renowned for his wit, style and sophistication, No?l Coward was one of the greatest playwrights of the 20th century. His plays, set in the glittering world of high society in which he lived, are much admired and have remained in the popular theatre repertoire to this day.
This collection brings together the very best radio adaptations of Coward's works, encompassing sparkling comedies of manners 'Private Lives' and 'Hay Fever', farcical ghost story 'Blithe Spirit', and daring m?nage ? trois drama 'Design for Living'. Here, too, is his controversial first hit 'The Vortex'; the poignant 'Still Life' (the inspiration for the film Brief Encounter); and the semi-autobiographical 'Present Laughter'.
Among the star-studded cast are Helena Bonham-Carter, Bill Nighy, Judi Dench, Celia Imrie, Roger Allam, Harriet Walter, Paul Rhys, Stephanie Cole, Peggy Ashcroft, Bill Fraser and Paul Scofield.
Private Lives
Divorced couple Amanda and Elyot meet again on their second honeymoons with new spouses.
Amanda...Helena Bonham-Carter
Elyot...Bill Nighy
Sibyl...Andrea Riseborough
Victor...Paul Ritter
Louise...AnnaRose Cattanach
Directed by Sally Avens
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in January 2010
Hay Fever
The Bliss family are ultra-bohemian and have "weekends". This time they have each invited a guest without telling one another. Result: mayhem!
Judith Bliss...Judi Dench
David Bliss...Michael Williams
Richard Greatham...Geoffrey Palmer
Marya Arundel...Celia Imrie
Jackie Coryton...Patricia Brake
Sandy Tyrell...Christopher Blake
Simon Bliss...Patrick Pearson
Sorel Bliss...Alison Reid
Qara...Patricia Hayes
Directed by Leslie Lawton
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in November 1992
Blithe Spirit
When Charles Condomine invites a medium to hold a s?ance at his country house, he anticipates little more than some harmless fakery. Instead, he gets a ghostly visitation from his dead first wife, rather to the chagrin of his very much alive second one...
Charles...Roger Allam
Madame Arcati...Maggie Steed
Elvira...Zoe Waites
Ruth...Hermione Gulliford
Dr Bradman...David Killick
Mrs Bradman...Tilly Tremayne
Edith...Natalie Cassidy
Directed by Philip Franks
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in December 2008.
Design for Living
A comedy concerning a trio of artistic characters, Gilda, Otto and Leo, and their complicated three-way relationship
Gilda...Cheryl Campbell
Otto...Alex Jennings
Leo...Michael Kitchen
Ernest Friedman...James Laurenson
Mr Birbeck...Alan Barker
Henry Carver...Bradley Lavell
Miss Hodge/Helen...Joanna Myers
Grace Torrence...Linda Marlowe
Directed by Ned Chaillet
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in December 1991.
The Vortex
A play that explores the darker side of the Cocktail Party set. Emotional blackmail, drug abuse and shattered relationships are minutely observed in this disturbing, early piece from a playwright whose sharp eye was more usually turned towards the light.
Florence Lancaster...Harriet Walter
Nicky...Paul Rhys
Helen...Frances Jeater
Pawnie...John Rye
Clara Hibbert...Jenny Funnell
Tom Veryan...Robert Portal
David Lancaster...Peter Blythe
Bunty Mainwaring...Federay Holmes
Bruce Fairlight...Keith Drinkel
Preston...Pamela Grace
Directed by John Tydeman
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in November 2000.
Still Life
The play portrays the chance meeting, subsequent love affair, and eventual parting of a married woman and a physician.
Laura Lesson...Amanda Root
Dr Alec Harvey...John Duttine
Myrtle Bagott...Stephanie Cole
Albert Godby...Trevor Peacock
Beryl Waters/Lady on Train...Sunny Ormonde
Stanley...Brian Parr
Dolly Messiter...Josephine Tewson
Bill...Richard Curnow
Johnny/Guard...Malcolm McKee
Directed by Sue Wilson
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in May 1998
Present Laughter
A few days in the life of the successful and self-obsessed light comedy actor Garry Essendine as he prepares to travel for a touring commitment in Africa. Amid a series of events bordering on farce, Garry has to deal with women who want to seduce him, placate both his long-suffering secretary and his wife, cope with a crazed young playwright, and overcome his impending mid-life crisis.
Gary Essendine...Paul Scofield
Liz Essendine...Joy Parker
Monica Reed...Patricia Routledge
Joanna Lyppiatt...Fenella Fielding
Henry Lyppiatt...Alan Rowe
Morris Dixon...Bernard Joyner
Daphne Stillington...Miriam Margolyes
Lady Saltburn...Betty Huntley-Wright
Fred...Timothy Bateson
Miss Erikson...Diana Olsson
Roland Maule...David Timson
Produced by Ian Cotterell
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in December 1974
Relative Values
When a peer of the realm plans to marry a Hollywood film star, his family are less than enthusiastic. But why should his mother's personal maid be even more implacably opposed to the wedding than his own flesh and blood?
Felicity, Countess of Marshwood .... Joyce Redman
Crestwell .... Bill Fraser
Moxie .... Gwen Cherrell
The Earl of Marshwood (Nigel) .... John Rye
Miranda Frayle .... Joanna Wake
Don Lucas .... John Rowe
Alice .... Deborah Paige
Hon Peter Ingleton .... Charles Hodgson
Admiral Sir John Hayling .... Garard Green
Lady Hayling .... Gladys Spencer
Producer/Director .... John Cardy
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in May 1976
This Happy Breed
The play covers a 20-year period from June 1919, when the Gibbons family move into their new home near London's Clapham Common, to when they move out in June 1939.
Frank Gibbons .... John Moffatt
Ethel .... Rosemary Leach
Mrs Flint .... Doris Hare
Queenie .... Alice Arnold
Bob .... Robert Lang
Sylvia .... Anna Cropper
Billy .... Michael Maloney
Vi .... Julia Swift
Phyllis .... Elizabeth Mansfield
Reg .... John McAndrew
Sam .... Simon Treves
Director: Glyn Dearman
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in September 1989
Waiting in the Wings
Set in a retirement home for actresses, Waiting in the Wings focuses on a feud between residents Lotta Bainbridge and May Davenport, who once both loved the same man.
May Davenport............................Mary Ellis
Cora Clarke..............................Evelyn Laye
Bonita Belgrave..........................Josphine Gordon
Maudie Melrose...........................Audrey Laiburn
Deirdre O'Malley.........................Mary Wimbush
Almina Clare.............................Joan Matheson
Estelle Craven...........................Ursula Hurst
Perry Lascoe.............................David Griffin
Miss Archie..............................Jill Balcon
Osgood Meeker............................Alan Weekly
Lotta Bainbridge.........................Dina Sheridan
Dora.....................................June Spenser
Doreen...................................Alice Arnold
Sarita Myrtle............................Patricia Hayes
Zelda Fenwick............................Hannah Gordon
Doctor Jevons............................Peter Craze
Alan Bennet..............................David Gooch
Directed by Graham Gold
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in April 1990
- Private Lives (39.9Mb)
- Hay Fever (37.4Mb)
- Blithe Spirit (39.9Mb)
- Design for Living (55.9Mb)
- The Vortex (39.4Mb)
- Still Life (21.2Mb)
- Present Laughter (40.9Mb)
- Relative Values (39.8Mb)
- This Happy Breed (79Mb)
- Waiting In The Wings (49.7Mb)
MP3 files hosted by archive.org.