The Midnight House an M.R. James based radio play by Jonathan Hall

A loose but enjoyable adaptation of the Mezzotint by M.R. James.

[@adzdahlman9724]

There hasn't been a train stop at Llan Festiniog for years and years ~ I've walked that line , past Manod Maur (big lump of a mountain) to Blaenau many times , it's very beautiful . Ps : if anyone's ever in the area , drop in to Pen Y Bryn Stores , you'll find a Peter Jones ~ ask him if he still has the sword...

[@Enshadowed]

This is exactly the sort of thing I've been searching for, the way this is dramatized is exactly what I remember hearing on radio sometimes in younger years.

[@ellenmendoza7246]

Some stories i never get bored off ..just brilliantly written and read thank you

[@ronostick9718]

Thanks "Bulletzen" I thoroughly enjoy these postings. It's people like you who take the trouble to let the rest of us enjoy what you too obviously enjoy that are selfless.

[@cwbrooks5329]

Perfect for a snowy night. So glad to have found this adaptation.

[@Kojoanna]

I just wish MR James would have written more stories to inspire more other authors.

[@2msvalkyrie529]

Maybe authors could think of their own stories rather than being " inspired " by earlier writers with superior gifts ?

[@stewartlancaster6155]

what a tedious nonsensical comment.

[@thepenultimateninja5797]

I really like this adaptation, it's like a sort of sequel to the original.

[@elliemccarthy3487]

Fantastic ending

[@julieburton192]

Brilliant!

[@toforgetisagem8145]

I haven't got a clue what this meaning of this story was about. I listened twice, just to make sure I hadn't fallen asleep and missed a bit.

[@Bulletzen1000]

I don't know what you mean? You listened to it twice and you don't know what the story is about? How??? It is laid out plainly for the listener!

[@annetteeggett]

Fantastic !!

[@mjrchapin]

A bit uncertain at the beginning but it certainly sorted itself out nicely.

[@morganlowe3353]

This remake is awesome. i love the modern twist

[@hollymh6266]

Possibly my favourite MRJ-inspired story - entirely its own thing, separate from the original, and very unique to boot!

[@Offshoreorganbuilder]

Fair enough, if you don't know the original story, which is far, far, better. Thanks for the upload.

[@andrewbuchanan5342]

I think that was a very reasonable representation of the Mezzotint. I think the evacuation angle added something. It's way better then E.G.Swain the Man with the Roller. I wasn't convinced by the Hogarth/Wilks angle, as what was described of their lives goes against accepted history. Why not use fictional characters? How could Hogarth make a picture like that? And I felt that Miss Paget was drawn very negatively.

[@2msvalkyrie529]

I was determined not to enjoy it but on balance it was rather well done. ? The M R James connection was pretty spurious ? Though not as spurious as the Hogarth / Wilkes plot device. On the whole : characters / atmosphere and dialogue better than anything on recent BBC radio drama - they captured the Army Officers / Other Ranks atmosphere of the period almost perfectly.

[@DestinyKiller]

I know this is old but I actually liked Miss Pagett. This does seem very, very loosely inspired by The Mezzotint since besides a haunted painting I don't really see the connection at all The Hogarth/Wilkes angle probably meant less to me since (until this comment) I didn't know they were actual people. I find the BBC radio drama more listenable than a lot of American ones because they don't seem to overload the story with music

[@ohitbe3616]

Loved this. Wonder if Padgett made it out of the Cave?

[@aaronbeach938]

This gives me downton Abbey vibes

[@dsd7004]

Top radio drama. other MR JAMES that are just ( nearly) as good.

[@jon3632]

James,s story had a better ending.

[@-Reagan]

An MR James fanfic haha not badly done, entertaining and thanks for posting - just that if someone wants to take from the original, maybe not rewrite it entirely - an elaboration on the original or continuation of it would be nice, though. I think we ought to have learned this, considering all the various incarnations of Shakespearean adaptations

[@2msvalkyrie529]

Could have been worse ? It might have been a " feminist re - imagining " of the original ? It's quite the latest fad at the BBC.? Presumably contemporary writers are unable to actually produce something original. ?

[@lyndaa7560]

Scepticism serves no purpose, thanks very much xx

[@JonFrumTheFirst]

Here's one vote against 'loose adaptations' of great stories. Either follow the story as well as the medium allows, or write your own.

[@2msvalkyrie529]

I agree ! I'm heartily sick of " re - imagined " versions of classic stories . Is it really impossible for contemporary authors to come up with original ideas ? !

[@michaelbedford8017]

This really has nothing to do with M.R. James at all. Since when were the police involved in his stories?

[@Bulletzen1000]

They weren't. As stated it the description it is a "loose" adaptation of the Mezzotint. It features a Mezzotint, that changes it's depiction to the viewer at certain times of the day and night. It is a completely different story to M.R. James' classic story, but it bears the essence of his work in that tale. Perhaps it is a sequel? Who knows? I just found it to be an entertaining and chilling piece of radio drama and shared it on here. Sorry you were dissapointed, but there are a lot of pure James adaptations available on KZbin

[@SarahFerguson264]

Irritating characters and not at all engaging.