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. © AudioFile 2009, Portland, Maine [Published: APRIL 2009]