The Noel Coward BBC Radio Drama Collection

Seven BBC Radio Full-cast Productions

De: Noel Coward

Narrado por: Alex Jennings, Bill Nighy, Celia Imrie, full cast, Harriet Walters, Helena Bonham-Carter, Judi Dench, Roger Allam

Duración: 11 h y 55 m

Resumen del Editor

Seven BBC radio full-cast productions of Noël Coward’s classic plays – plus bonus material including a profile of Coward and extracts from his diaries.

Renowned for his wit, style and sophistication, Noël 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 ménage à 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 and Paul Scofield.

Also included is a BBC World Service profile of Noël Coward, comprising interviews, musical extracts and archive clips; and the BBC Radio 4 programme ‘From His Diaries’, featuring a selection of passages from Coward’s journal read by Simon Cadell.

Track listing:

1-2: Private Lives
3-4: Hay Fever
5-6: Blithe Spirit
7-10: Design for Living
11-12: The Vortex
13: Still Life
14-16: Present Laughter
17: Meridian: Noël Coward profile
18-20: Noël Coward - From His Diaries

Private Lives
Amanda…Helena Bonham-Carter
Elyot…Bill Nighy
Sibyl…Andrea Riseborough
Victor…Paul Ritter
Louise…AnnaRose Cattanach
Directed by Sally Avens

Hay Fever
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

Blithe Spirit
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

Design for Living
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

The Vortex
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

Still Life
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

Present Laughter
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

©2018 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd (P)2018 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd

A lot of arguing

I almost opted out after the second play. Maybe they didn’t translate well, or maybe Noel Coward’s work isn’t entirely my cup of tea. It just felt as if people were nonsensically shouting at each other and picking the most ridiculous fights over nothing. I missed any depth of plot. Not one character felt realistic or relatable (maybe because my life doesn’t consist of unreasonable arguments) But with Blithe Spirit it gripped my attention (though the grip was more like a flaccid handshake) a little more. They’re not bad plays, but I don’t think I’m the target audience for them. Nothing blew me away. I was expecting really clever stories, and I just found them a bit empty. I also missed a certain kind of wit. The dialogues were lacking and the overall plots were rather superficial. I felt that I as a reader had to give it a meaning myself.

Wonderful performances, stories, music

I have always loved Noel Coward, and this collection is such a gem. The performances are so well done, and the cast is just a delight. It’s as if, and I’m sure it’s true, that each cast member was beautifully connected with their role person. The music is a perfect accompaniment to the complex yet human scenes and experiences. I love the different productions of what became Brief Encounter, each one a step towards completion. I highly recommend this book

They know these are comedies, right?

While it is always possible the cast was being so droll that the humor escaped me, it really felt like they were treating the material with such reverence and acting so seriously that they plum forgot these were comedies.

Some good plays...

Some good plays, some not. But all, performed by very fine actors. With a healthy dose of the playwright himself after you're done listening to the last play.

I loved it

Cowardis a charme.The cast was wonderful.couldnt stoplistening.Many great plays and a very good biography at the end

Great plays, crappy curation by audible

Fantastic performances but the chapter listings are a mess and don’t even say where one play begins and ends, and the scenes and acts don’t correspond to the chapters either. Can someone from audible fix this?