Wodehouse was born 100 years ago

Press, 15 October 1981, Page 15

Wodehouse was born 100 years ago

Listening

To mark the centenary of p. G. Wodehouse’s birth today the National radio programme at 8 p.m. is beginning a seven-part’ 8.8. C. series of “Joy in the Morning.” with Michael Hordern as Jeeves and Richard Briers as Bertie Wooster. From the early 1900 s until within a year of his death at 94 in 1975, P. G. Wodehouse produced a constant stream of comic novels and stories, immortalising such characters as Bertie Wooster and his valet Jeeves, the Earl of Emsworth, Gussie Fink-Not-tle, Bingo Little and of course, Psmith ("the P is silent, fellow”). Wodehouse was born in Surrey but lived in the United States for many years, taking- out American citizenship in 1955. His comic novels are set in a timeless English upperclass world. “Joy in the Morning” is the story of Bertie Wooster and his engagement — against his will but at frequent intervals — to Florence Craye, a lady novelist. As usual his attempts to bring happiness into the lives of other love birds brings nothing but trouble until

Jeeves brings his great mind to bear on the problem. Sibelius The Concert programme tonight at 8.58 will broadcast Sibelius’s “Four Legends from the Kalevala” Op 22, played by the Hungarian State Symphony conducted by Sibelius’s son-in-law, Jussi Jalas. Pastoral A selection of ancient Swedish herding calls can be heard on the Concert programme tonight at 7.20. Every herding call is to some extent improvised and can be heard over great distances. The calls are made with the voice, with birch bark or animal horns. Arts in N.Z. William Southgate, in Wellington, is this week’s compiler and producer of the Concert programme’s regional survey of the Arts in N.Z. at 7.30 p.m. The programme will be repeated at 10 on Saturday morning.