An amazing play. The writing, the acting, the passion. It's still relevant today. Given that we currently have a cabinet full of elitist, privately educated individuals, nothing has changed
“And history will tell us it was a great victory”. A victory in fact for no one. WW1 was probably the most senseless devastating war in all history. Great radio play and William Squire was absolutely outstanding. A rare treat.
My grandfather worked in the production of munitions during WW1. He was always highly cynical about politicians and people in authority generally, but had genuine respect for Lloyd George who did transform supply to the Front. So did 3 of my Great Uncles who served on the Western Front. He may have been a rogue and a charlatan on the side, but at least he achieved something for the ordinary troops.
I don’t think I have heard a more powerful character, than the one played by William Squire, as The Minister. Sometimes I’m apt to doze off, in my comfortable armchair, as I enjoy these plays. However, Morgan Evans made sure, I remained focus till the end. Thanks
Recently on YT, I was replying to someone bemoaning the fact that Marlon Brando, in The Godfather, was reading his lines from cue-cards...they also pointed out that MB was wont to do so in other films as well...what the poster omitted to say was that this has been a technique utilised by many film actors since the invention of talking pictures, including the great Barrymore himself. My reply was that, over the years, I had heard some brilliant acting in radio plays where the actors are standing around a microphone with the scripts in their hands, their only concern being that they make sure not to rustle the paper!...Great actors produce great performances whether the medium is stage, screen or radio. What I didn't do was give an example (there are so many), but as proof I would've loved to have posited William Squire's utterly brilliant performance in "Storm Lantern"...a standout performance amongst many other fine performances in the play...How an actor 'receives' the lines, whether it's from memory or from cue cards or from scripts in their hands, is irrelevant, I couldn't care less...it's what they do with them, how they interpret them, that matters...The great William Squire (RIP) proved my point perfectly.
Wow William Squire as Evans, spectacular !!! He must have enjoyed expressing this passionate and forceful character of a man very much. Wonderfully entertaining :)
I never realised William Squire was from Neath before, the wider area produced a staggering number of world class actors from Ray Milland to Richard Burton and Anthony Hopkins. Best remembered perhaps as Hunter in Callan.
There’s a new weapon called a tank? They only got that name due to the fact that they were shipped to the front under the pre-text of being water tanks stencilled on their sides
Hmmm, interesting, thanks! (I imagine the reference at/around 6mins about taking a bath was meant to be a hint of irony/subtext. Water tank being a thing needed to make a warm bath possible.)
I vaguely remember reading that Richard Earl Lloyd-George changed most of the names so as not to upset his step-mother Frances (David Lloyd-George's 2nd wife) & her children, but they had all died before the '70s. Btw, I think you meant 'rogue' instead of 'rouge', although he did achieve significant social-reforms that many nations came to adopt & continue to benefit from!
I vaguely remember reading that Richard Earl Lloyd-George changed most of the names so as not to upset his step-mother Frances (David Lloyd-George's 2nd wife) & her children, but they had all died before the '70s. Not everyone liked David Lloyd-George, but he did achieve significant social-reforms that many nations came to adopt & continue to benefit from!
Emily Pankhurst was the leader of the Suffragette movement: Emily Davis threw herself under the hooves of the King's horse at,I think the Derby to draw attention to the cause of women's suffrage.
An amazing play. The writing, the acting, the passion. It's still relevant today. Given that we currently have a cabinet full of elitist, privately educated individuals, nothing has changed
This is by far the best radio drama i've ever heard !:-)
“And history will tell us it was a great victory”. A victory in fact for no one. WW1 was probably the most senseless devastating war in all history. Great radio play and William Squire was absolutely outstanding. A rare treat.
What war ever for a moment t made "sense" with the object being total devastation?
EXCELLENT!
You can’t pay enough for this kind of entertainment. Simple wonderful.
Excellent and sad reality of power and games played by men who are beyond the danger of the battlefield
Excellent, thanks for this!
My grandfather worked in the production of munitions during WW1. He was always highly cynical about politicians and people in authority generally, but had genuine respect for Lloyd George who did transform supply to the Front. So did 3 of my Great Uncles who served on the Western Front. He may have been a rogue and a charlatan on the side, but at least he achieved something for the ordinary troops.
Enjoyed immensely! Thank you for sharing
Very strong performance. Great drama.
I do look at comments however, would love a brief synopsis! Going to listen anyway. Thank you
Google is your friend. Try "Storm Lantern radio play"
"We're supposed to be a great industrial power, but how can you explain the awful inadequacy?"
Well, that could apply to today...!
I don’t think I have heard a more powerful character, than the one played by William Squire, as The Minister.
Sometimes I’m apt to doze off, in my comfortable armchair, as I enjoy these plays.
However, Morgan Evans made sure, I remained focus till the end.
Thanks
Nice one thank you. X
Recently on YT, I was replying to someone bemoaning the fact that Marlon Brando, in The Godfather, was reading his lines from cue-cards...they also pointed out that MB was wont to do so in other films as well...what the poster omitted to say was that this has been a technique utilised by many film actors since the invention of talking pictures, including the great Barrymore himself.
My reply was that, over the years, I had heard some brilliant acting in radio plays where the actors are standing around a microphone with the scripts in their hands, their only concern being that they make sure not to rustle the paper!...Great actors produce great performances whether the medium is stage, screen or radio. What I didn't do was give an example (there are so many), but as proof I would've loved to have posited William Squire's utterly brilliant performance in "Storm Lantern"...a standout performance amongst many other fine performances in the play...How an actor 'receives' the lines, whether it's from memory or from cue cards or from scripts in their hands, is irrelevant, I couldn't care less...it's what they do with them, how they interpret them, that matters...The great William Squire (RIP) proved my point perfectly.
excellent summary
Superb acting with an emotional script
Superb tension, superb strategising. Real insight into high stakes political wheeler-dealing.
Superb.
Wow William Squire as Evans, spectacular !!! He must have enjoyed expressing this passionate and forceful character of a man very much.
Wonderfully entertaining :)
I never realised William Squire was from Neath before, the wider area produced a staggering number of world class actors from Ray Milland to Richard Burton and Anthony Hopkins. Best remembered perhaps as Hunter in Callan.
Needs a Synopsis a brief description of this drama
There’s a new weapon called a tank? They only got that name due to the fact that they were shipped to the front under the pre-text of being water tanks stencilled on their sides
It's a shame Land Ironclad didn't catch on
@@kevfullo Indeed! I think one HG Wells came up with that name...or was he using someone else's term?
Hmmm, interesting, thanks! (I imagine the reference at/around 6mins about taking a bath was meant to be a hint of irony/subtext. Water tank being a thing needed to make a warm bath possible.)
Excellent Excellent
The BBC TV drama of the 70s about David Lloyd George was like this play, Excellent. He was a bit of a rouge was George but a strong leader.
I vaguely remember reading that Richard Earl Lloyd-George changed most of the names so as not to upset his step-mother Frances (David Lloyd-George's 2nd wife) & her children, but they had all died before the '70s.
Btw, I think you meant 'rogue' instead of 'rouge', although he did achieve significant social-reforms that many nations came to adopt & continue to benefit from!
I vaguely remember reading that Richard Earl Lloyd-George changed most of the names so as not to upset his step-mother Frances (David Lloyd-George's 2nd wife) & her children, but they had all died before the '70s.
Not everyone liked David Lloyd-George, but he did achieve significant social-reforms that many nations came to adopt & continue to benefit from!
Wasn't Emily Pankhurst a women suffraget she sacrificed her life at a horse race meeting I remember
Emily Pankhurst was the leader of the Suffragette movement: Emily Davis threw herself under the hooves of the King's horse at,I think the Derby to draw attention to the cause of women's suffrage.
Good old fashioned play, suburb acting
Too many adds!
Sorry. Settings were wrong. It's fixed now
Annoying adverts every 10 minutes.
L