Judi Dench and Michael Williams: With Great Pleasure
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Publisher's Summary
Two archive BBC Radio programmes in which Judi Dench and Michael Williams, accompanied by friends John Moffatt and Alec McCowen, read a cornucopia of poetry and prose.
In this enchanting pair of programmes from 1991 and 1996, Dame Judi Dench and husband Michael Williams shared an eclectic selection of pieces that they loved, admired or simply found entertaining.
'With Great Pleasure' saw Judi Dench and Michael Williams joined by fellow actor Alec McCowen to read some of the literature that shaped their lives. Among the poems included are
- Sylvia Plath’s ‘Morning Song', ‘Fern Hill’ by Dylan Thomas, and Charlotte Mitchell’s ‘Just in Case’, and there are extracts from Shakespeare’s Antony and Cleopatra, Alan Bennett’s The Lady in the Van, and Alec McCowen’s Young Gemini.
Fond and Familiar was a true variety show featuring Dench, Williams, and acclaimed actor John Moffatt. Together they performed verses, ballads, limericks, stories, nursery rhymes, and epitaphs, ranging from the comic to the deeply moving.
Featuring old favourites such as ‘The Green Eye of the Little Yellow God', ‘Mandalay', and ‘Billy’s Rose', as well as less well-known gems that are nonetheless remembered with affection, this collection of ‘party pieces’ will surprise, inspire and delight.
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What listeners say about Judi Dench and Michael Williams: With Great Pleasure
Reviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Arlene
- 05-01-16
Sublime
Absolutely fabulous performance. It is funny, moving, entertaining and thought provoking. I'm grateful it's forever preserved in my Audible.
2 people found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Sallie50
- 03-30-15
Great to hear these voices again!
Can't go wrong with Judi Dench!
Great variety, even singing.
I want more -- wishing for 2007 Xmas show on BBC.
2 people found this helpful
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Overall3 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story3 out of 5 stars
- Lucy B
- 08-12-18
Beautiful performances but disappointing content
I bought this hoping for an entire collection of poetry and Shakespeare and there is both but there is also quite a few limericks and that bawdy English stuff I really don’t like - and had I known I wouldn’t have bought it. So just be aware of that when you purchase it.
1 person found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story4 out of 5 stars
- MYRA
- 06-26-18
Just what I needed to brighten my day.
I feel like two friends came for drinks and dinner then launched into a back and forth reading! They gave just the right amount of commentary between wonderful selections from all over the map. Thank you, Judi and Michael. I will be listening to this many more times.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Amazon Customer
- 05-14-16
thoroughly enjoyed it. judi dench andcast were fa
perfectly delightful.humorous entertaining sad moments judi drnch abd cast were amazing and delightful snd humorous