RARE BBC LPs: The Beaux' Stratagem (George Farquhar)

$

50

British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) Transcription Service

EXTREMELY RARE 2-Disc recording of

THE BEAUX' STRATAGEM

by

George Farquhar

Performed for the BBC's World Theatre Series

With Pauline Jameson, Wendy Craig, John Glen and John Humphry

     This auction is for a two-disc recording of The Beaux' Stratagem, a Restoration Comedy written by George Farquhar (1677-1707).  If Restoration Comedy was on the way out when Farquhar wrote this play in 1707 it was certainly making a fine exit.  His play has the charm, wit, sauciness and ingenious contrivance that mark the best comedies of the period, without taking the excessive liberties favored by Farquhar's older contemporaries.

     Two young men of fashion, Aimwell and Archer, arrive at a coaching inn in search of a rich wife for one of them, so that both can share her fortune.  Archer poses as his friend's servant, and so is able to flirt with Cherry, the innkeeper's pretty daughter, as well as attracting young Mrs. Sullen, who is married to a drunken sot and finds Archer much more to her liking.  In the meantime, Aimwell pursues the wealthy beauty needed to bring the beaux' stratagem to a successful conclusion.

     A curious feature of this lighthearted play - which Farquhar wrote on his deathbed - is its quite serious argument that incompatibility of temperament should be a legitimate ground for divorce.  The author had borrowed both the argument and many of the striking phrases used to support it from a pamphlet written by John Milton.

     This BBC Transcription Service recording is exceptionally rare.  The use of the discs was restricted to broadcasting stations authorized by the BBC and had specific dates for when they were to be removed from service and destroyed.  Nearly all of the 2-disc sets for this production, as well as other plays in the BBC World Theatre Series of recordings, no longer exist.  This particular set was broadcast four times at a small midwestern college FM station and had an expiry date of October 2, 1967.  It has been in my private collection for more than 40 years and is still in the BBC supplied buff-colored sleeves (the dates of the four broadcasts have been written on each sleeve).  The performance, on two 12" 33RPM vinyl LPs, lasts 89 minutes.

      The cast for this recording includes the following actors and actresses:

Hamlyn Benson (Boniface); Barbara Mitchell (Cherry); John Glen (Aimwell); John Humphry (Archer); Wendy Craig (Dorinda); Pauline Jameson (Mrs. Sullen); George Hagan (Squire Sullen); Hugh Dickson (Scrub); William Eedle (Gibbet); Gydrun Ure (Gipsy); Gladys Spencer (Countrywoman); June Tobin (Lady Bountiful); Stanley Lebor (Hounslow); Haydn Jones (Bagshot) and Philip Leaver (Sir Charles Freeman).

     This recording, aside from being particularly rare, would be of great interest to persons with some knowledge and concern with British theatre.  It might be a wonderful addition to a public school, university theatre department or private library of theatre-oriented materials.  As should be expected of vinyl discs of this age, there is some sporadic surface noise but not enough to detract from the quality of the performances.

     I will be listing other rare BBC World Theatre recordings this week including the Hippolytus of Euripides and the Electra of Sophocles.