The Great British Radio Play presents.........................Random Moments In A May Garden (1974)

Random Moments In A May Garden
by James Saunders
Publication date 1974
First broadcast: Sun 20th Jan 1974, 19:55
by James Saunders
with Barbara Jefford as Sophie, Peter Jeffrey as David, Julie Hallam as Anne and Helen Worth as Katie
This elegant domestic study is set within the deceptively simple framework of a middle-aged married couple giving a small dinner party for their friends, In the background, hauntingly, is an old photograph of another family group taken in a May Garden, raising the question of transience versus permanence. The play also subtly explores Sophie's doubts on the degree of her own fulfilment.
Contributors
Writer:James Saunders
Producer:Richard Wortley
Sophie:Barbara Jefford
David:Peter Jeffrey
Anne:Julie Hallam
Katie:Helen Worth
Photographer:Anthony Hall
Surveyor:Vernon Joyner
Digby:Denys Hawthorne
Ann:Elizabeth Morgan
Mark:Hugh Dickson
Katherine:Ellen Sheefan
Additional Music :
I Don't Smoke
By Mythical Score Society
Artwork:
Judge Mental
Thanks For Listening
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[@lisaann6965]

These radio plays have transformed my boring housework, thank you! 🙏😄

[@shellybay817]

Cured my insomnia!

[@willowwobble]

Thank you. A mysterious story giving a revealing glimpse into Edwardian life from a damaged photo.

[@noneofyourbusiness9369]

It seems to us that the family in the picture are living within their frame in the after life as the people who are having dinner around a table carrying on conversations in the world of the living. It seemed so sad. Much different, we've never heard of this one it was enjoyable to listen to. Thank you.

[@Khatoon170]

Thank you for wonderful cultural channel. Iam Arabic lady subscriber to several British and American KZbin channels . We are as foreigners subscribers as overseas students want to increase our cultural level improve our English language as well, literature lovers too . I gathered main theme of play and playwright briefly here it’s James Saunders ( 1925- 2004 ) he was prolific English playwright born in islington,London . His early plays led to him being considered one of leading British exponents of theatre of absurd .

[@Failte630]

Great to read your comment. That's an innovative way to tune into another culture to help you improve your English. Do listen to the more modern plays as well, as a lot of these plays are back in the '40s, & '50s. I find them very interesting to know what life use to be like back then. I'd love to speak Arabic so I could listen to your radio stations. I can speak French too and can at least listen in on their cultural events. Peace to you.

[@lesleymarriott9076]

Bravo 👏 . ❤ these plays.

[@sandrapicton6349]

What a beautiful voice the little girl has, perfect diction, would not find that today sadly.

[@2msvalkyrie529]

Stage school kid with pushy parent probably ?

[@olenas7209]

Hello I’m Olena from Ukraine 🇺🇦. I’ve fled my home due to the war and come to England. Thanks to the UK government I’m in safe place. I got a job at the NHS and I’m quite settled now. I would like to improve my English and this canal that I’ve found today will help me a lot. Thank you so much for the classical English language ❤

[@Seaprincess6077]

Hello Olena, welcome to the UK and well-done on getting such a good job. By the way, we say "channel" and not "canal"! Your English is very good. Good luck, Michele

[@Khatoon170]

Random moment in May garden plot summary about middle age couple have bought country cottage and are given remains of old photograph by survey of who found it . Under lining paper inside one of cupboard . It’s was piece of Victorian family portrait which now show two little girls photographed in garden . We learn what they were doing there in random garden . This play is two stories occurring in parallel in same house . Thank you for giving us chance to read learn new information. Good luck to you your dearest ones .

[@jamc9459]

Very enjoyable, much aloha from Kapakalua Maui

[@wyominghome4857]

I like to keep a relic from old houses. Thank you. Lovely and poignant.

[@londonbridge4200]

There is so much going on here... so poignant, so sad.

[@user-ih7hw1np9g]

This is a really good play. Yes the girl may be dead, as are some of the others in the photograph. A photo only captures a moment in time. This play tries to imagine what was actually going on at the time. The rather melancholy moments towards the end sum it all up really. Thankyou for posting.

[@cousinsister69]

There is a flaw in our programing. We go through life feeling as though we're meant for more. Ever searching. For what? A kind of perpetual underlying disappointment, even though we might have everything we need. We always want that elusive something. 💜

[@eddiemunster2196]

Now everyone, Please take a minute and then read on ? It is a bit long, I apologize for that. Well this may be my idea of what this play may be like ? So, you may find my writings interesting ? Sadly I think, the young girl I dead in this story, this play... With the family living on, not even thinking of her, So so hurtful.... As I mentally think of a painting with her in it. I imagine she, sits or stands in that created reinactment picture in oil base paint, she talks, creates suggestions then even answers her own suggestions. As her spirit is locked just right there, She listens and not one of them even mention her name. It seems so so sad. Now I really don't know about this story. I am just projecting, imagining, or even self creating, I guess ? I could be very wrong all together. Well, never the less, I am enjoying it. So I must thank you for providing this for everyone.. Another thought : Everyone could and, most likely does have there own option on this play or any other I was not going to but, what the hell... Listen to that harpsichord, a sound trapped in time before the turn of the century, of 1900...? Hmm. ? Well, thank you again..... Have a wonderful day tomorrow ..,.. Cheers..... .... ... .. .

[@tonietteh2015]

Very poingtantly written. I feel you have captured that intellectual & intelligent young lady

[@noneofyourbusiness9369]

eddiemunst* We love to share these with our grandchildren. We imagine that we are a part of the story. Our favorite are the murder mysteries we love to debate the how, who and the why. We don't always agree and our debates are sometimes quit lively and so much fun.

[@lindasue8719]

To the channel creator, a recommendation: please change the titles of the videos to first say the name of the show rather than the channel (which we already know that we are on 😁) . In a few cases I can read the title on the thumbnail, but sometimes they are too small when viewing on a phone, and also KZbin's layout put the timestamp right where you put the title so it's unreadable. You may wish to take a small device and look at your "videos" list to see what I mean. Good luck with your channel, I think you have a great concept!👍🏼

[@ropeburnsrussell]

Well, i shouldn't have listened in the morning, i will be melancholy all day.

[@chrisweatherley9587]

@The Great British Radio Play Presents................................................................................................................................................................................sort your thumbnails out mate. great channel but all you can see on the mobile app is you channel name and a million full stops. no idea what the story is called.

[@2msvalkyrie529]

The most irritating opening 2 minutes of any play I've ever heard.