‘The Misanthrope’ up to date

Press, 23 November 1981, Page 14

‘The Misanthrope’ up to date

Moliere’s comedy of manners. "The Misanthrope,” was updated in a new English translation for the National Theatre in Britain several years ago so that the play was reset in 1966 in the France of Charles de Gaulle. This 8.8. C. radio version follows that resetting which brings the play forward 300 years from the time of its first performance. The title of “The Misanthrope” is something of a paradox. Alceste is no true hater of mankind, on the contrary, he expects too much of' his fellow men and is continually being disappointed. He makes a fetish of plain speaking and ends up thoroughly disillusioned — friends, patrons and girlfriend have let him down. But in truth it is he? himself, whose obstinacy and bad temper have made him impossible to live with. Moliere’s “The Misanthrope" in this 8.8. C. production has Alec McCowen as Alceste and Diana Rigg as Celimene. Concert, 8.10 tonight. N.Z. symphony An Englishman, Christopher Seaman, is conductor in a Radio New Zealand recording of a New Zealand symphony concert performance earlier this season (Concert. 9.15 p.m.). The concert opens with the Beethoven Egmont Overture and then the orchestra plays the Brahms Variations on the St Anthony Chorale. Finally they are joined by trumpeter Gordon Webb as'soloist in the Trumpet Concerto in A flat by the present-day Armenian composer Alexander Arutunian. a

1949 composition which has proved popular as a concert work in Europe. Jazz The cream of New Zealand's jazz talent is being featured on Monday evenings on the National Programme at 9.15. Both large and small groups are present, with the spotlight this week on Wellington's “Dark Town Strutters." Ken Avery leads the group in some traditional jazz. Book reading A new series of late-night book readings begins tonight on the National Programme at 10.30. "High Stakes," by Dick Francis, is a story of double-dealing, intrigue" and suspense which uncovers the seamier side of horse racing. Author Dick Francis was himself a professional jockey for many years and champion jockey in the United Kingdom in 1953-54. The world of horses has always fascinated him and he uses it as a background to many of his novels which include “Dead Cert,” “Blood Sport," “Smoke Screen" and “Whip Hand.” Dick Francis received the Edgar Allan Poe Award in .1970. Autobiography The well-known "retired" New Zealand broadcaster. John Gordon, reads extracts .from his recently-published autobiography beginning on the National Programme tomorrow afternoon at 1.45. John Gordon looks back over his life with typical enjoyment, recalling his early