David Tennant stars as a disillusioned schoolmaster in the
first episode of a two-part radio production of the Chekhov comedy commonly known
as Platonov on BBC Radio 4 this afternoon. The play is a radio version of Michael
Frayn’s 1984 stage adaptation which was given the title Wild Honey. David is joined
in the production by Olivia Darnley, Elliot Levey, and John Hollingworth.
Wild Honey
Wild Honey is a rumbustious cornucopia of characters
and themes, covering sexual comedy, morality, melodramatics, the state of
contemporary Russia and a hint of tragedy.
Village schoolmaster Platonov has it all - wit,
intelligence, a comfortable and respectable life in provincial Russia, and the
attentions of four beautiful women - one of whom is his devoted wife. As summer
arrives and the seasonal festivities commence, the rapidly intensifying heat
makes everyone giddy with sunlight, vodka and passion.
Everyone loves Platonov - but who does he really love?
Perhaps it’s only himself.
The original play was famously discovered in a bank vault in
1920, sixteen years after Chekhov's death, with the title page missing, leading
to its rather varied history of titles, and ran at nearly six hours long. Platonov
himself is half Hamlet, half Benedick. A sharp and witty tongue - but somehow
incapable of decision. Comedic with an underpinning of the tragic: "I love
everyone - and everyone loves me. I insult them, I treat them abominably - and
they love me just the same!"
Cast
(In order of appearance):
(In order of appearance):
Dr Triletzky - Elliot Levey
Anna Petrovna - Sasha Behar
Porfiry Semyonovich Glagolyev - Christian Rodska
Sergey - John Hollingworth
Colonel Triletzky - Rupert Vansittart
Sofya - Eva Feiler
Marko - Nigel Cooke
Marya Yefimovna Grekova - Prisca Bakare
Platonov - David Tennant
Sasha - Olivia Darnley
Gerasim Kuzmich Petrin - Ben Onwukwe
Osip - Forbes Masson
Anna Petrovna - Sasha Behar
Porfiry Semyonovich Glagolyev - Christian Rodska
Sergey - John Hollingworth
Colonel Triletzky - Rupert Vansittart
Sofya - Eva Feiler
Marko - Nigel Cooke
Marya Yefimovna Grekova - Prisca Bakare
Platonov - David Tennant
Sasha - Olivia Darnley
Gerasim Kuzmich Petrin - Ben Onwukwe
Osip - Forbes Masson
Wild Honey is directed by Clive Brill who also produces for
Brill Productions for BBC Radio 4
Wild Honey Part One airs on BBC Radio Four today from 2.30pm
BST
The production concludes tomorrow on BBC Radio 4 from 3pm.
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