THE Sacred Flame by W. Somerset Maugham

Posted by Riklaa on January 24, 2013 at 5:22pm

THE Sacred Flame
by W. Somerset Maugham
SNT 17.7.1965
SNT 8.4.1989
With Dame Sybil Thorndike, Jill Balcon, Carleton Hobbs, John Graham
128K


The Sacred Flame is the story about the misfortune of Maurice Tabret, previously a soldier of World War I who had returned home unscathed to marry his sweetheart Stella. Unfortunately, after only a year of marriage, Maurice is involved in a plane crash and left crippled from the waist down. The play commences some years later in Gatley House near London, home of Maurice's mother, Mrs. Tabret.

Mrs. Tabret's home has been set up to care for her son and a young Nurse Wayland has been Maurice's constant aid throughout. She is extremely professional and devoted to her job. Maurice's wife Stella lives with them also and remains his cheerful companion and support. Maurice's brother Colin Tabret has returned from a time in Guatemala to spend the previous 11 months before the play's start with his brother and the family. The local practitioner Dr. Harvester visits frequently to check on Maurice's condition and to prescribe appropriate treatments. Mrs. Tabret's own husband has passed on some time ago and whilst she does not have a close relationship with anyone else, her old friend retired Major Liconda visits often.

All is as well as can be expected until Maurice is found dead in his bed one morning. Not altogether unexpected, Dr. Harvester is prepared to write the death certificate but then Nurse Wayland cries foul and indicates that she believes Maurice was murdered by being given an overdose of his sleeping draught. The play then works through a series of Agatha Christie-style "whodunnit" scenes as the audience attempt to figure out whether Maurice was killed, took his own life, or else if the whole thing is no more than an imagining and false accusation by the Nurse.



THE SACRED FLAME LINK


 

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Tags: BBC, Dramatisation, Mystery, SNT, Whodunit
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Replies

  • Dave Gibson February 16, 2013 at 6:39am

    One of the most under-rated writers of the 20c. Trouble with the Scottish accent- come on down to Australia and we'll show you an accent to have problems with LOL. Och, ladddiiiee, it's a brit lit moon et tonet and there's a moose loose around the hoose!!! 

  • Robert Johnson February 16, 2013 at 1:46am

    Thanks for this one.

    Cheers Rick.

    Robert Johnson

  • WWB January 29, 2013 at 11:33am

    Thanks for another SNT.  WWB

  • Mike Hobart January 26, 2013 at 4:29am

    Interesting.    Wouldn't have expected Mr Maugham to turn up in the Whodunit thread.    Must have a listen.

  • Gerald Lea January 25, 2013 at 7:20pm

    GREAT!

  • Jim Robarts January 25, 2013 at 5:23pm

    Thanks Rick.

    • Riklaa > Jim Robarts January 25, 2013 at 5:41pm

      You're welcome!

  • Gordon Sabaduquia January 25, 2013 at 4:01am

    This is as wonderful radio interpretation!Dame Sybil Thorndyke and the redoubtable Carleton Hobbes (interpreter of Sherlock Holmes) have unmistakeable voices. Many thanks, Rick! 

  • Kurt L NYC January 24, 2013 at 7:19pm

    Thanks.

    (I fell asleep during the Scottish one. Hopefully I'll like this one better.)

    • Riklaa > Kurt L NYC January 24, 2013 at 8:08pm

      I have difficulty with a heavy Scottish accent.  I usually don't listen any longer if I am am missing 1 out of every 3 words in the dialogue.  If I came in contact with it more it probably wouldn't be a problem.  I live in South Carolina and have gotten used to to a Southern drawl so now i can understand it without a problem and it would probably be the same for a Scottish accent.   -----------------------------------------------------------------------------  Rick

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