Lady Windermere's Fan

Odd that the notoriously unconventional British wits Oscar Wilde and Noel Coward should write such conventional schmaltz as the latter's BRIEF ENCOUNTER and the former's FAN. At least Wilde flavored his saccharine melodrama with the epigrammatic gems that have kept it stageworthy. The morally supercilious Lady Windermere comes to believe her husband has begun an adulterous affair with an older woman of bad reputation. But a mitigating secret lies in the ostracized woman's true identity. This production, taped before a live audience, begins too hurriedly but eventually finds its pace. The nonpareil Miriam Margolyes excels in a comic supporting role, while lead Roger Rees does not rev up until the second act and Joanna Going is a particularly annoying Lady W. Y.R. (c) AudioFile 2001, Portland, Maine

Oscar Wilde's play is part of a welcome revival of recorded drama. Lady Windemere was first produced in 1892 and launched Wilde's succession of society comedies. Less well-known than The Importance of Being Earnest , this play should reach a wider audience with recorded performances. An Ideal Husband, in revival on Broadway, along with A Woman of No Importance and Earnest , are all available from Penguin. An outstanding British cast includes Stephanie Beacham as Mrs. Erlynne, the mysterious woman who enters the lives of Lord Windemere (Nicky Henson) and his Lady (Jenny Funnell), and Christian Rodska as Lord Darlington. All the actors have fine stage credits, and Rodska is also known to audiobook listeners for many exceptional narrations for Chivers Audio Books. The actors offer rich and memorable characterizations. Listeners can delight in a text form originally designed for multiple voices. The inclusion of stage directions provides insight to the dramatic timing. Other than Shakespeare there are few full-length recordings of plays available. The audio presentation encourages a contextual understanding and appreciation of the literature--useful for the classroom, as well as individuals. Wilde's irreverent wit and satire of social conventions shine in this fine production. R.F.W. (c)AudioFile, Portland, Maine

Oscar Wilde's play gets a marvelous revival in this full-cast BBC production. The script is only lightly abridged and edited, so it retains all of the original wit while clarifying references that might be lost on contemporary listeners. Eleanor Tremain, in the role of Lady Windermere, has an irresistibly attractive voice that captures the na•veté and youthful beauty of the character. Much of the humor, meanwhile, is delivered by the peripheral characters, such as the oblivious Lord Augustus and the smarmy Dunby, both of whom are portrayed by voices that get their idiosyncrasies just right. While it may be hard to relate to the social scene of this century-old play, this production shows why Wilde remains so popular. D.B. (c) AudioFile 2008, Portland, Maine