Robert's Wife - St. John Ervine - BBC Saturday Night Theatre

St. John Greer Ervine was an Irish biographer, novelist, critic, dramatist, and theatre manager.
He was born in Belfast, Ireland but moved to London while in his teens. His first play, Mixed Marriage, was produced at the Abbey Theatre in 1911. In June 1913, he was standing beside Emily Davison at The Derby and witnessed her being fatally injured by King George V's horse. Ervine served in the Royal Dublin Fusiliers during World War One, and suffered an injury that resulted in the amputation of one of his legs. Ervine worked as the manager of the Abbey Theatre from 1915-16. He also wrote the plays Anthony and Anna in 1926 and The First Mrs. Fraser in 1929. His 1956 biography of George Bernard Shaw was awarded the James Tait Black Memorial Prize.
A contemporary production of Mixed Marriage played at the Finborough Theatre in London from 4 to 29 October 2011, to critical acclaim.
Ervine died in London in January 1971, aged 87.
Originally Broadcast 7/5/1969
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[@janebrown7231]

A modern morality play in which each character's ethical stance is unfaultable, yet each stance clashes with the others. Beautifully constructed and deeply thought-provoking and emotive. The underlying sense of unresolvable frustration is appropriate for this principled family and also for a community on the brink of world war. This is a gem - recommended for a time when you will not be interrupted. Thanks for the upload.

[@TheVaughan5]

Wonderful. I’m really enjoying these radio plays. Just proves that the imagination is a viable, even better at times, alternative to watching the images.

[@callycat6660]

Oh My what an extremely enjoyable and excellent play ..Thankyou for sharing ..I don't think I will ever forget this play .......

[@irenabevans3411]

Good look at the social environment & all the imperfections within it, most enjoyable

[@AuntClara0911]

Excellent production & thought provoking topic! Thank you SO very much for me adding this to your library of high quality audio programming!

[@elaineholyoak3156]

Wow, very few of these plays and stories make me stop and think. This one did. A perfectly rounded creation. Thank you.

[@tottiemae2258]

Synopsis: A devoted couple, he a minister, she a doctor, are each passionately pursuing their careers. Both, having opportunities for advancement, reach a crisis point in their marriage.

[@trixylabelle8442]

Many thanks again tottie mae for letting us all know a little of what this one's about,👍

[@tottiemae2258]

@@trixylabelle8442 Very happy to be of service!😊

[@janegriffiths7733]

once again Thank you, I hope you and your family have a good Christmas

[@tottiemae2258]

@@janegriffiths7733 You're very welcome, dear Jane.

[@Jazaloo]

Thankyou so much. It’s great to have The run down on what it’s about. !!!! 🙏🙏👌❤️

[@dmx5439]

Exactly what I needed ...thank you

[@gill2854]

Wonderful! Although they were preparing for war, everyone was so gentle and kind, even Father Jefferson. We could do with taking a step back in time.

[@stephenbrasher]

"She's a snippity piece". It's a very long time ago... St John Ervine is a playwright well worth discovering, this particular play doesn't give you a good idea of his range, although it does illustrate his gift with character.

[@powercat95]

Just found out recently I’m related to this guy turns out he’s my great great great great grandfather

[@nkarcher]

What a great story. Fantastic array of wonderful characters So sad when it ended. Wanted it to go on and on and on.

[@Loki.uk70]

A lesson in marriage 💑 and the upsets 😡 of life in the world 🌎 we live.......good play from the heyday of the BBC....

[@davidskeeterskeeter1835]

All good stuff folks,👏👏👏🇬🇧

[@brendabarrowable]

Very rich play, like eating a whole fruit cake at one go ! Brenda

[@natashafernando3503]

Beautiful story

[@Failte630]

Brilliant story for it's time. Very brave to approach such difficult, social and religious subjects in that society. I really liked the 'cosmological' ending. A subject after my own heart and I didn't expect to hear it at the end of this play. I wonder how this play was received in it's day? Anybody know? I'd like to have known St. John Ervine.

[@casper1959]

Brilliant. Was not sure I would like it at first but so glad I stuck with it. Every character was interesting and acted wonderfully. Cannot recommend this enough.

[@helenswan705]

I agree. It's not the sort of thing I'd choose, but it was very thoughtful, very rewarding.

[@TedaR]

Good lord man do you ever sleep? Ty for ALL your hard work & great offerings! SNT & Archie Campbell 👍

[@pepperhounddog]

Great story, really enjoyed, thanks.

[@GoodCarmaCircles]

Thank You - each and every-one involved.

[@simonmcgrath4112]

Great play loved it immensely oh and a light year is 6 trillion miles not 6 billion not that anyone cares!!!! Again great play

[@paulbennett772]

This was written when billion meant 10^12 in the UK

[@janebrown7231]

​@paulbennett772 Yes, the British definition of 'billion', a million million, although quite logical (I thought!) gave way to the American definition, a thousand million.

[@denestarjanyi8892]

Thank you.

[@daftirishmarej1827]

Love, no matter how much, isn't enough. Mutual goals are essential too

[@susanparker812]

Thank you for the great listening

[@prince.mushroom]

This is just wonderful

[@duyagetme]

thank you so much!

[@glinda9243]

Wonderful.

[@chocksaway100]

Excellent thanks for uploading.

[@lisagahan6512]

Wonderful story ❤

[@maxinejacobson4006]

Very enjoyable.

[@rosemariemcgowan6388]

Suppose they called a war and nobody came...... x

[@suewhitburn3315]

Yet another great radio play.

[@carolgabbett5205]

A very thought provoking walk back in time and a very enjoyable listen. Thank you

[@susanotway7875]

Enjoyable. Well worth a listen. Interesting from a social point of view. Story set in the 1930's?

[@janebrown7231]

Set in 1937, two years before the declaration of war, and first broadcast in 1957.

[@susanotway7875]

Thank you for this information

[@janebrown7231]

@susanotway7875 Glad to help! 😊

[@srinagesht]

Very good story. You may like another radio drama “loyalties” by John Galsworthy also available on KZbin equally well made and a different topic.

[@gregstewart6429]

Sexual politics and pacifist sentiments here in spades. Thanks for uploading 👍👍

[@mckavitt13]

Was it politically correct for its time?

[@janebrown7231]

​@mckavitt13 It wasn't politically correct. Of the main characters, every one of them overstepped conventional moral barriers for the sake of personal ethical principles - and each of them stepped in a different direction. Miles ahead of its time - a little masterpiece.

[@lonsworth]

Makes me want to hear Ronald Coleman & Benita Hume in the Halls of Ivy ...

[@jordsupp]

Sprinkled with many very outdated views and some more contemporary opinions. The ending was a disappointment, although as a whole it was quite entertaining. Thankyou for uploading.

[@emcarver8983]

Please accept. Joan Hickson IS NOT in this play. Cast in order of speaking: June Hanvey: Patricia Gallimom Anne, the parlourmaid: Frances Jeater Miss Orley: Anne Cullen Sanchia Carson: Jessie Matthews Dick Jones: Alaric Cotter Robert Carson: Godfrey Kenton Bishop of Winterbury: Norman Shelley Mrs Jones: Hilda Fenemore Bob Carson: David Valla Chief Insp Lindsey: Garard Green Inspector Futvoye: Peter Williams Mrs Armitage: Margot Boyd The Rev Arthur Jefferson: Peter Pratt Produced by Norman Wright SATURDAY-NIGHT THEATRE Sat 5th Jul 1969 20:30 on BBC Radio 4 FM

[@incrediblesimilarity5858]

@25:45. *He came in looking awful anglo-catholic." That's a great line, given the context in which it is spoken. ⛪⛪ AAAHUUUUM

[@lydiamarks8577]

Great play & I LOVED the accents! Thanks for sharing 👍

[@paulbennett772]

What accents?

[@chicagogyrl4846]

@@paulbennett772 😆😂

[@lydiamarks8577]

@@paulbennett772 Don’t you hear what gorgeous accents/dialects the Brits have?

[@paulbennett772]

@@lydiamarks8577 Sorry, you're obviously not English.

[@lydiamarks8577]

@@paulbennett772 Actually I am! I left Hants in early 90s & now reside in Cape Town but have never forgotten the wonderful different accents or dialects of the real British people 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼

[@donwardell4605]

There is a fine sense of "Englishness" and comfort about this play. It was part of a BBC drama series "Saturday Night Theatre". The series aired for years at 8.30 p.m. each Saturday evening and it has it's own sense of style and was a beacon to English values in the 1950's.. Jessie Mathews the star of this radio play was indeed a star in her own right and was the Queen on British Musical Theatre she had several hit records the biggest bring "Over my Shoulder". In her sixties the BBC signed her for a daily soap called "Mrs. Dale's Diary", the adventures a Doctors wife in a fictional London suburb. This is a very Church of England look at life. Jumble sales, the Scouts, brownies and vicarage teas. All this got swept away in the 60's when members of the Commonwealth "came home" to England and the milkman was suddenly a pakistanie and the "Post man" was suddenly Jamaican. English roast beef was abruptly swept away as we learned eat Curry.

[@Tinyflydeposit]

Thanks for the synopsis, however I think the values and mode of life swept away in the 60s was a world wide phenomenon and while linked to post war/colonialism the power behind the sweeping wave of change was a move away from religion and out dated values

[@lizziedripping71]

What is wrong with charity jumble sales, Scouts, Brownies, vicarage teas ?

[@Tinyflydeposit]

@@lizziedripping71 nothing. In fact with the exception of vicarage teas we still have all those things in Australia. For all I know they have vicarage teas but being a heathen I wouldn't be invited.

[@suspendeddisbelief401]

So, values were "swept away" by the non whites? Think that's what you're saying. Whatever values you're lamenting you prove racism & scapegoating are alive and well. I certainly don't think your viewpoint adds anything to the quality of today's world, it actually adds to its woes.

[@squaretriangle9208]

we always pick and choose, change is inevitable and after some time becomes the new old, for me not being from the UK Curry and people from the Postcolonial world are typically British or even English, and everybody will say this in 20 years time about the Polish electrician and the Iraqi teacher; on the other hand the issues touched upon are just as burning today as they were then; I'm awfully happy though, that 'peace in our time' did not prevail, pacifism when totalitarianism is lurking is absolutely wrong

[@Angela-cc1hd]

Interesting play, Roberts wifes voice sounds like she is a much older woman, than Robert? Nevertheless it's a very good play!

[@hanneshuette]

“Robert Carson in St. John Ervine's famous play is Vicar of St. Michael and All Angels in the southern industrial town of Combermere; his wife Sanchia is a doctor. They are a happy and well-matched couple but events come to show the truth of Robert's remark to Sanchia that "your idea that a husband and wife can keep their careers in separate compartments is all very well in theory, but in practice, it doesn't work." For Sanchia's pet project, a birth-control clinic, bitterly resented by a neighbouring clergyman, becomes an issue which affects Robert's chances of advancement in the Church, and family affairs are further complicated by the activities of Bob, son of Robert's first marriage and a militant left-wing pacifist. The date, bear in mind, is 1937,”

[@zoyablake9538]

Thanks!

[@krysmccormack1268]

Thank you so much for the synopsis

[@suzeauster2223]

Greetings from florida 🌴 Thank You Jane 💐

[@chicagogyrl4846]

If Robert wants to advance in I’m assuming (I did not listen yet), Catholic Church, and his wife is so supporting of birth control that she wants to open a clinic, they are definitely not a “well matched couple”, due to their religious differences. Thanks for the synopsis! I did start to listen, and as far as I got was that his son and his lover were expecting, and her mother did not like him, and would not give her permission to marry. How stupid! So then she is supposed to be ashamed then??! And is she going to have her daughter and baby live with her, and help care for the baby?? This is just absurd! And she says she wants someone better for her, but as a single mom, her chances of marrying up are seriously diminished. 😆😂

[@redsquirrel5501]

@@chicagogyrl4846 It was set in 1937 so reflects the dominant beliefs and values of the time. I expect in 84 years time, 2105 people will look back at our culture and values and scoff at how absurd we are today. That is of course if we haven't blown ourselves up by then or become extinct through destroying the planet. Who knows maybe we can do better. I'm impressed there were women Doctors in 1937 and ones running birth control clinics in rural Britain. How we doing in some of the Southern states today ? !

[@Oakleaf700]

Wonderful oldskool accents...And some comical attitudes, too!

[@sandyhall237]

Fantastic story!

[@Gillby47]

Couldn't help comparing the charge of sedition as described in this play to the present situation of people being arrested for addressing a person by the wrong sex.Just signs of their times.

[@chicagogyrl4846]

I cannot listen to any of these, because there is no description of the story.

[@TheKathymorrison]

I read the reviews.. It helps

[@paulbennett772]

There are two synopses posted nine months ago.

[@chicagogyrl4846]

@@paulbennett772 I don’t mean in the comments, I mean in the description. How would I know that there is a synopsis in the comments? And I do want to have to scroll through comments , just to find out what the feature is about.

[@chicagogyrl4846]

@@TheKathymorrison Yeah, on many other UTUBE channels, it is the same. It is such a pain and time consuming to search on Google, every different feature, just to know what the storyline is, only to find out that I am not interested to watch that particular one!! I don’t even bother with this channel, or others like it. They have time to post a history, ect., but they do not post a quick storyline! It does not need to be complete, or lengthy, just a brief idea of what the storyline is, so that I can decide if I would be I interested, or not. I have only found one movie channel and one radio show channel that does this, so I patronize these. How would I know if I would like to listen if there is no storyline posted??! And why should I need to scroll through comment after comment, and hope to find some clue about the storyline, when it would only take me seconds to know if I would like to watch it, or not?

[@TheKathymorrison]

@@chicagogyrl4846 I know.. I don't know why the person doesn't post the story line.. Maybe it is not available when they find them??? What others say really helps me out.. Keep trying it is really worth it..

[@rosemariemcgowan6388]

Thou shalt not kill x

[@electrictofumuffins6384]

Simplistic tripe dressed as progressivism and dull writing