Jeeves Joy In the Morning

The idly rich and somewhat goofy Bertie Wooster, assisted by his brainy manservant, Jeeves, once again seeks to avoid marriage and choleric relatives while helping friends in love. In this 1978 BBC Radio production, Richard Briers is a nervous, energetic, and likable Bertie, and the fine comic actor Michael Hordern is a drawling Jeeves who can get a laugh just clearing his throat. One or two other players overact, but Wodehouse is hardly realistic to begin with. As a whole, it would be hard to imagine a better cast. The summaries included for the original episodic BBC broadcasts are simply unnecessary in a short program and should have been cut. But this light-as-a-bubble diversion is still a joy, anytime. W.M. (c) AudioFile 2009, Portland, Maine


These two Jeeves and Bertie short stories were recorded in 1964. "Jeeves Takes Charge" relates how the omniscient valet Jeeves first hooked up with the vapid, young man-about-town. In "Indian Summer of an Uncle," Jeeves saves Bertie's uncle from a silly young woman. The audio quality of this package is flawless, and, given the stature of the well-chosen main actors, it's difficult to find fault. Terry-Thomas is sibilant and vacuous, Livesey, somber and wise. However, there are many variants of Jeeves and Bertie in the audio world, and this one must take its place somewhere in the middle of the pack--well done, not bad, good fun. D.R.W. (c) AudioFile, Portland, Maine