An all-star cast illuminates this new dramatisation of one of the best known of Thomas Hardy\'s novels, The Mayor Of Casterbridge.
One drunken night at a fair, Michael Henchard auctions off his wife, Susan, and their baby daughter to a sailor for five guineas. In the sober light of day, Henchard\'s terrible realisation of what he has done compels him to swear an oath to abstain from alcohol for 21 years and he sets about the fruitless task of searching for his wife and child.
Eighteen years later, Henchard, now a successful corn merchant and the Mayor of Casterbridge, gets the chance to make amends when Susan and Elizabeth-Jane unexpectedly walk back into his life.
Friendship and rivalry, lies and revelations, love and loss, unexpected arrivals and sad departures weave their way through Henchard\'s dramatic and tragic life.
The Mayor of Casterbridge is dramatised by Helen Edmundson, whose recent work includes dramatisations of War And Peace for Shared Experience and Coram Boy for the National Theatre.
1/3. Michael Henchard spends his life trying to atone for the terrible action that led to the loss of his wife and child. But no matter how hard he tries to conceal it, his past refuses to be buried.
Michael Henchard ........................... John Lynch
Elizabeth-Jane ............................ Ruth Wilson
Donald Farfrae ........................... Paul Higgins
Furmity woman ............................ Maggie Steed
Susan Henchard .............................. Olwen May
Abel Whittle .............................. Burn Gorman
Jopp .................................... Conrad Nelson
Newson ................................ Jonathan Keeble
Solomon Longways ........................ Russell Dixon
Christopher Coney ....................... David Fielder
Mother Cuxsom .............................. Sue Ryding
Martha .............................. Vashti Maclachlan
Directed by Nadia Molinari.
2/3. Henchard attempts to hold his life together despite painful revelations and the unexpected arrival of someone from his past.
Michael Henchard ........................... John Lynch
Elizabeth-Jane ............................ Ruth Wilson
Donald Farfrae ........................... Paul Higgins
Lucetta ................................. Emma Fielding
Furmity Woman ............................ Maggie Steed
Susan Henchard .............................. Olwen May
Abel Whittle .............................. Burn Gorman
Jopp .................................... Conrad Nelson
Solomon Longways ........................ Russell Dixon
Mother Cuxsom .............................. Sue Ryding
Phoebe .................................... Lorna Lewis
Director Nadia Molinari.
3/3. Henchard sets about rebuilding his life but the appearance of a stranger in Casterbridge threatens to unravel everything.
Michael Henchard ........................... John Lynch
Elizabeth-Jane ............................ Ruth Wilson
Donald Farfrae ........................... Paul Higgins
Lucetta ................................. Emma Fielding
Furmity Woman ............................ Maggie Steed
Abel Whittle .............................. Burn Gorman
Jopp .................................... Conrad Nelson
Newson ................................ Jonathan Keeble
Solomon Longways ........................ Russell Dixon
Christopher Coney ....................... David Fielder
Mother Cuxsom .............................. Sue Ryding
Martha .............................. Vashti Maclachlan
Phoebe .................................... Lorna Lewis
Director Nadia Molinari.
Type : mpeg 1 layer III
Bitrate : 192
Mode : stereo
Frequency : 48000 Hz
Length : 02:52:22
Encoder : Lame 3.97
Source : Freeview