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Wednesday, September 20, 2006

The Effects are Excellent!

Now, you all know how well I think of the BBC's 1972 radio adaptation of Jane Eyre with Megwynn Owen and Patrick Allen. I did not realise until tonight just how realistic a production it was. I live now in residence, and suffice to say the persons in the next room were being very noisy at 3 am here- arranging furniture, perhaps and sqealing. So, I reached for my trusty iPod, Charlotte and put on the longest thing I could find- which was this 5 hour Jane Eyre. I found it still difficult to get back to sleep but I was begining to doze off when Jane gets up in the night to save Mr Rochester from the fire. Very soon after, I hear another strange noise. It is the residence fire alarm. I went out into the dark and foggy night- and then stood in the dark, foggy, rainy night outside the hall.

Moral of the story is, I think, don't listen to the BBC in bed.

(This is the second time I have attempted to use this production to mask the noises coming from that room every Tuesday night/Wednesday morning but the first time I also had a problem in that I forgot about Mr Mason. I leaped up with Jane at his blood-curdling cry. Maybe I should try Pride and Prejudice instead).

3 comments:

Anonymous said...

Where can I download radio adaptations of Jane Eyre? Which one is the best?

Brontëana said...

I have posted several from time to time, and the BBC air one fairly regularly on one of their internet channels but it is usually one of my least favourite ones.

In my opinion the very best radio adaptation is the BBC's 1972 version with Megwynn Owen and Patrick Allen in 5 parts. Megwynn's Jane is more convincing than all of the actresses I've seen in the role, Rochester and St.John are all magnificient, and it includes scenes that have never been used in other adaptations of the book.

Anonymous said...

As it's not commercially available, the best place to find a copy (like the one I have) is on WinMX.

Incidentally, her name is spelled Meg Wynn Owen. There is another more recent BBC version with Joanna David that is available as an audio book.