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Radio Roundup - Election Hangover Edition
Nov. 20th, 2016 10:21 amWell, it's been an unsettling two weeks, and while there are fights to be fought and civilisations to be saved, sometimes you just need to curl up in a dark corner with some aural opiates and get away from it all. That is what I'm here for, ladies and gentlemen!
First up is a very special rerun:
EREBUS
NON-ELECTION CONTENT
Over Sea, Under Stone - I had a minor obsession with this book in grade 6, which instilled a love of British folklore and Deep Time. It takes itself refreshingly seriously for old-school YA adventure; the peril is real and the fantasy woven into the reality very plausibly. I hope we get The Dark Is Rising for Christmas ...
Watership Down - Speaking of formative childhood reading, I can trace nearly everything in my life back to my dad reading this to me when I was 5. Nice to hear it done seriously in a new production from one of my favourite radio directors.
Open Country: Watership Down - A few years ago, the BBC sent their rambling correspondent to the location of the above book, for an audio exploration – consider it a DVD extra.
The Picture of Dorian Gray - Oscar Wilde's story of the perennially fresh-faced dissolute Mr Gray and his dark secret, very capably dramatised. The elder Henry character makes me wonder if it's an allusion, because –
Old Harry's Game - uses an old nickname for Old Nick to title the everlastingly entertaining sitcom starring Satan. Yes.
Listen Against - Radio 4 gets lost in its own navel and finds some amusingly-shaped lint
The Skivers - Barmy sketch comedy, you know how I like these things
Ray Bradbury stories - A series of readings of Ray Bradbury's short sci-fi stories; there are roughly three per episode so you can load up on a whole bunch of brilliance.
The People's Post - A narrative history of the post office. If you, like me, have found Going Postal an adequate prerequisite for current events, this may be of especial interest.
Denmark Hill - Alan Bennett's retelling of Hamlet, set in a modern London suburb
John Finnemore's Souvenir Programme - You know it's good.
Saki - Three hours devoted to the Edwardian short story writer who had a rather sardonic view of his society.
ELECTION CONTENT
The Now Show - Punt and Dennis have the unenviable task of making all this dire news funny. Which they do! Never mind the undercurrent of despair. 'S fine. Everything's fine.
The Unbelievable Truth - This panel game is always worth a listen, but this particular episode has John Finnemore telling a load of fibs about Donald Trump. If you'd rather not hear that name, you can select another episode.
Rich Hall's (US Election) Breakdown - US comedian Rich Hall recorded a topical comedy show in the States for airing in the run-up to the election on Radio 4; this is the post-election episode.
First up is a very special rerun:
EREBUS
This utterly transporting sound/prose/music collage took me completely by surprise when it aired in 2012; remarkably it hasn't been repeated until now – or, that is, last week; I was too busy wallowing post-election to catch it when it aired, so you only have three weeks to listen instead of the usual month. I highly recommend you do, though, as this is pretty much the epitome of what radio is capable of as an artistic medium; even if you're not super into polar stuff, it'll carry you away for three quarters of an hour.
NON-ELECTION CONTENT
Over Sea, Under Stone - I had a minor obsession with this book in grade 6, which instilled a love of British folklore and Deep Time. It takes itself refreshingly seriously for old-school YA adventure; the peril is real and the fantasy woven into the reality very plausibly. I hope we get The Dark Is Rising for Christmas ...
Watership Down - Speaking of formative childhood reading, I can trace nearly everything in my life back to my dad reading this to me when I was 5. Nice to hear it done seriously in a new production from one of my favourite radio directors.
Open Country: Watership Down - A few years ago, the BBC sent their rambling correspondent to the location of the above book, for an audio exploration – consider it a DVD extra.
The Picture of Dorian Gray - Oscar Wilde's story of the perennially fresh-faced dissolute Mr Gray and his dark secret, very capably dramatised. The elder Henry character makes me wonder if it's an allusion, because –
Old Harry's Game - uses an old nickname for Old Nick to title the everlastingly entertaining sitcom starring Satan. Yes.
Listen Against - Radio 4 gets lost in its own navel and finds some amusingly-shaped lint
The Skivers - Barmy sketch comedy, you know how I like these things
Ray Bradbury stories - A series of readings of Ray Bradbury's short sci-fi stories; there are roughly three per episode so you can load up on a whole bunch of brilliance.
The People's Post - A narrative history of the post office. If you, like me, have found Going Postal an adequate prerequisite for current events, this may be of especial interest.
Denmark Hill - Alan Bennett's retelling of Hamlet, set in a modern London suburb
John Finnemore's Souvenir Programme - You know it's good.
Saki - Three hours devoted to the Edwardian short story writer who had a rather sardonic view of his society.
ELECTION CONTENT
The Now Show - Punt and Dennis have the unenviable task of making all this dire news funny. Which they do! Never mind the undercurrent of despair. 'S fine. Everything's fine.
The Unbelievable Truth - This panel game is always worth a listen, but this particular episode has John Finnemore telling a load of fibs about Donald Trump. If you'd rather not hear that name, you can select another episode.
Rich Hall's (US Election) Breakdown - US comedian Rich Hall recorded a topical comedy show in the States for airing in the run-up to the election on Radio 4; this is the post-election episode.
