The Sacred Flame - W. Somerset Maugham - Lux Radio Theatre South Africa

The Sacred Flame (1928) is William Somerset Maugham's 21st play, written at the age of 54. Maugham dedicated the publication to his friend Messmore Kendall.
The play, written as three acts, is unique within the total of Maugham's list of 24 plays, in that he changed from his previous methodology of using the naturalistic speech pattern he had been so well known for, to experiment with a more literary dialogue. Despite being a commercial success, Maugham did not repeat the experiment of literary dialogue again in any of his future plays.
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. (Wikipedia)
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[@rubytuesday5412]

Thank you. W.S.Maugham is a big fave. I love hearing the old-time ads too.

[@jamesmatthews9557]

A most compelling drama.

[@cousinsister69]

Loved the ad breaks. Toothpaste that "dazzle-izes!" The play was heavy with soap opera worthy emotional quality but definitely worth listening to. I enjoyed it.

[@alexandracolmant9983]

Beautiful adaptation of the Maugham play. Synopsis: Morris is invalided by a war injury and depends completely for his care on the love of his close family and a paid nurse. I love this version because it is more succinct than one I heard previously with Wendy Hiller playing the lead. I always felt that one was a bit wearisome, despite the name cast. This story unfolds in a more compressed way because it's been shortened, and the emotion heightened. Now I can grasp the meaning of the title...Sacred Flame refers to the tending of the devoted love they all share for Morris. I hope this invites listeners...enjoy.

[@brucejackson4219]

In some ways, the main theme reminds me of Stefan Zweig's "Beware of Pity"-being one of my favourite 20 th century novels. A very pleasant way of spending best part of an hour. Radio plays have the benefit of allowing the listener to bring his/her imagination to what/how is portrayed. Somerset Maugham: a master craftsman of the English language.

[@meletcl]

Altogether enjoyable break from the noise of the current reality of a pandemic and unconscionable and unhinged politicians, while not forgetting some oblivious members of the public.

[@lindawalters4098]

So happy to have found this channel

[@richardallen3810]

Excellent. WS Maugham was one of my boyhood favorite authors as an uncle of mine gave me an anthology of novels which I loved. His works are comprised of people I’m afraid who longer talk or act this way and may seem old fashioned but I find it marvelously entertaining. His plots always surprise me and his depth of human understanding genuine. This particular melodrama is an example. Loved it.

[@maxinejacobson4006]

I haven’t read any W. S. M. for ages and this has made me want to start again.

[@QED_]

@Maxine Jacobson: I've been doing that for 50 years with Maugham . . .

[@Jivanmuktishu]

@@QED_ Maugham was amazingly productive. He has a huge number of short stories, which somebody ought to make into an audiobook.

[@globalman]

Delightful. Radio had the effect of tantalising and provoking creative imagination. Totally lost with tele, cinema and stultifying digital devices. I'm sorry there is no list of credits for actors.

[@sandrapicton8961]

I absolutely agree, especially about the stultifying digital devices!

[@pattymullin8515]

This was excellent - what a treat.

[@sands7779]

love the mother's quote on the whole of virtue

[@Angela-cc1hd]

Very Interesting story, Somerset Maughan did do really good plays, it was awful that the Nurse inflicted more upset on the family, as Morris had no quality of life anyway!!

[@katiedotson704]

Nurse Wayland's hatred was borne of jealousy. Her hatred for Stella began the moment she began to fall in love with Maurice. I found it quite interesting at how Weyland's overwhelming sense of duty expired when she realized that Stella was not the one that would be charged with Maurice's murder.

[@lydiamarks8577]

WOW! This did take me back to very good old days ❤️ Thank you for uploading 👍

[@katiedotson704]

Assisted suicide is not a term that would have been used at the time Maughm wrote this play, that describes the love and devotion of an entire family toward a single member. At the end of the story, one ponders who loved Maurice more?

[@sockmonkey22]

Maugham had me hoping the murderer would get away with it and I’m a law&order guy. Maugham gets criticized for being a lightweight, yet this story weaves quite a sophisticated dilemma. Her husband would have noticed eventually anyway and the outcome would have been the same.

[@wry6read]

I guess you had to be there. Did not realize Maugham ran this thin.