Ethan Frome by Edith Wharton

Posted by Riklaa on February 2, 2012 at 9:23pm

Ethan Frome (Woman's Hour Drama)
Broadcast on BBC Radio 4
Monday 16 to Friday 20 January 2012

by Edith Wharton, Dramatised by Lin Coghlan. Ethan Frome is one of Edith Wharton's most enduring and powerful stories. Set against the cold, grey, bleakness of a New England winter. Ethan Frome scrapes a living from his woodlot whilst trapped in an unhappy marriage with his hypochondriac wife, Zeena. A ray of light enters Ethan's life when his wife's cousin Mattie arrives to help. His life is transformed as he falls in love with Mattie but their fate is determined by their circumstances and the stifling conventions of the time.

Part 1 - Why does Ethan Frome walk with a limp? And what is the tragedy that befell him over twenty years earlier? A visitor to the town attempts to find out.

Part 2 - Zeena goes away to visit a Doctor and Ethan and Mattie are left alone together for the first time.

Part 3 - Ethan and Mattie's idyll is shattered by the return of Zeena.

Part 4 - Ethan becomes determined to escape his marriage and runaway with Mattie.

Part 5 - Mattie and Ethan take desperate measures not to be separated.

Ethan Frome ..... Dominic Mafham
Mattie .....Jessica Raine
Zeena .....Laurel Lefkow
Denis Eady ..... Christopher Webster
Post Mistress ..... Adjoa Andoh
Andrew Hale ..... Paul Moriarty
Edith Wharton ..... Fenella Woolgar

Directed by Sally Avens    

Ethan Frome LINK

Ethan Frome was deemed shocking when first published as it appeared to condone infidelity. What many readers did not know was that many of the novella's themes mirrored real events in the life of Edith Wharton. Her own story is told in an accompanying play 'The Jinx Element' that transmits on Saturday 21st January and explores her own sexless marriage and a passionate affair that begun when she was 47.  https://timespast.ning.com/group/ClassicContemporaryDrama/forum/topics/the-jinx-element-by-by-stephen-wakelam

You need to be a member of Times Past to add comments!

Join Times Past

Tags: Drama, Dramatised, Romance
Email me when people reply –
Follow

Replies

  • Riklaa March 18, 2012 at 8:15pm

    I was at a loss of how to post it so  that everyone got both productions since one was one group and the other was this group. I sincerely hope you got both.  ---------------------------------------  Rick

  • Lesa Williams March 18, 2012 at 8:02pm

    I can't wait to hear this. Thanks !

  • abby February 3, 2012 at 8:35am

    Thanks again, Rick...you're greeaaaaaaattt!

This reply was deleted.