The Country Wife
by William Wycherley
William Wycherley - The Country Wife
BBC Radio 3: Drama on 3
Broadcast: Sunday 13th April 2008 @ 8:00 p.m.
Considered too obscene to be staged in its original form for nearly 200 years, William Wycherley's raunchy Restoration comedy tells
the tale of Mr. Horner, the randy Restoration rake who devises an ingenious scheme for ruthlessly seducing the women of London
society. By spreading the false rumour that he is impotent (following a bungled treatment for venereal disease), he gains the sympathy
of the husbands of the town and – crucially – free access to their wives.
Meanwhile, the newly married Pinchwife, who has not heard the news of Horner's unfortunate condition, desperately attempts to keep
his naïve country bride from discovering the many and varied pleasures of London life. When she and Horner meet, events spiral out
of his control...
Adapted for radio by David Blount from the 1675 Restoration comedy "The Country Wife" by William Wycherley, a mordant satire of a
sexually and financially rapacious society.
With Ben Miller [Mr. Horner], Geoffrey Whitehead [Mr. Pinchwife], Clare Corbett [Mrs. Margery Pinchwife, the Country Wife], Nigel
Anthony [Sir Jasper Fidget], Celia Imrie [Lady Fidget], Jonathan Keeble [Mr. Harcourt], Rachel Atkins [Alithea, Sister of Pinchwife],
Mark Williams [Mr. Sparkish], Dale Rapley [Mr. Dorilant], Sara Markland [Mrs. Dainty Fidget, Sister of Sir Jasper], Joan Walker [Mrs.
Squeamish], Elizabeth Morgan [Old Lady Squeamish], Emma Kilbey [Lucy], John Evitts [A Quack], and James Joyce [A Boy].
Music for this production has been specially composed by Stephen Warbeck and performed by Nick Cooper, Anna Hemery and
Susie Shrubb.
Directed by David Blount.
140 min.
Jim
