By Fyodor Dostoyevsky, dramatised by David Blum.
Russia, 1859: The Manor of Stephanchikovo has been thrown into chaos by the activities of a former sergeant who has set himself up as an arbiter of morals and taste. When he interferes in the marriage plans of the family, the whole situation explodes.
Starring David Suchet, Margot Boyd and Clive Merrison.
Directed by Martin Jenkins.
Size 41MB. Bit Rate 64kbs. Length 90 Min
Rikkla has added a better encode of this drama, and the link is attached.
My thanks to him for this. His posting here also has a full cast list; see posting below.
Replies
The Friend of the Family
by Fyodor Dostoevsky
Dramatised for radio by David Blum
160/44; 102.6 MB; sound quality excellent
First broadcast: 5 December 1984
Repeated 16 December 1984
Monday Play, 11 February 1985
Radio 4 Extra, 30 August 2014
Duration: 90 minutes
Russia, 1859: The estate of the widower Colonel Yegor Ilich Rostanev has been thrown into chaos by the activities of Foma Fomich Opiskin. Foma Fomich is a middle-aged charlatan who has set himself up as an arbiter of morals and taste, having browbeaten the local worthies into believing that he is virtuous despite behavior that is manipulative and spiteful. The situation explodes when he interferes in the marriage plans of the Colonel. He loves the beautiful but poor Natasha, while Foma Fomich would rather see him wed the mad but wealthy Tatyana Ivanovna.
Based on the 1859 novel 'Selo Stepanchikovo i evo obitateli', also known in English as 'The Village of Stepanchikovo'. The uncharacteristic novel was not well received, but Dostoevsky wrote of it in a letter: "I am convinced that there are many weak and bad things in my novel; but I am convinced - I stake my life on it! - that there are very fine things. They sprang from the heart. There are scenes of high comedy that Gogol would have signed without hesitation."
Cast:
Clive Merrison .............. Foma Fomich
David Suchet ................ The Colonel
John Webb ................... Sergei, the Colonel's nephew, a student
Kathryn Hurlbutt ............ Sashenka, the Colonel's daughter
Helena Breck ................ Natasha, Sashenka's governess
Margot Boyd ................. Madame La Generale, the Colonel's mother
Alan Dudley ................. Yezhevikin
Colin Starkey ............... Mizinchikov, a distant cousin
Bernard Brown ............... Bakcheyev, a neighbour
Lockwood West ............... Gavrila, the Colonel's servant
Maggie McCarthy ............. Tatyana Ivanovna
Gary Cady ................... Obnoskin, a friend from town
Graham Blockey .............. Falaley
Eva Stuart .................. Miss Perepelitayn, Madame la Generale's companion
Alan Thompson ............... Servant
Directed by Martin Jenkins.
The Friend of The Family 160K Link
Again sounds fresh THANKAS but I can see dates of
1984-12-16 - AP - Friend of the Family, The
1985-02-11 - MP - The Friend of the Family
do you know when?
I am sorry Paul but I do not know first date of transmission. Rebroadcast August this year. Will endeavour to add dates broadcast with further postings if I hear of them.
Regards,William.
As requested. 160K I also answered the questions from Paul. Some people like to have all broadcasts of a play with the different announcers and intros. To my way of thinking, "Why do I need 4 or more copies of the same play"? Just give me the best copy and if you want, the intros on the side in another mp3
Thank you!
You are very welcome Abby