6 6 But my 2nd button hole for me Phipps my little brother distinguished thing fits I'm the only person of the smallest importance in London the present who wears a flower in his buttonhole years right older have observed that. You see things the fashion is what one wears oneself what is unfashionable is what other people wear Yes my lot just as well got to simply the conduct of other people yes my lot and full foods the truths of other people yes my lord other people are quite dreadful The only possible society is oneself Yes model to love oneself is the beginning of a lifelong romance fips. Years my lot don't think I quite like this part and healthy lives makes me look a little too old makes me almost in the prime of life a hips are going to observe any alteration in your lordships appear to student hips No my lord I'm not quite sure for the future more trivial buttonholed hips on a Thursday evening I will speak to the florist my lord she's had almost on her family later which perhaps accounts for the lack of triviality your lordship complains of at the bottom of the. Extraordinary thing about the lower class in England they always losing their relations years right all they are extremely fortunate in that respect. Any letters fibs Yes my lord 3 I want my cab run in 20 minutes so yes my lord. When did this letter arrived it was proof I hand earlier this evening just after your lordship went to the club that will do. Lady children's handwriting on Lady Chiltern's pink paper that is rather curious I thought Robert was to write. Wonder what Lady Chiltern has got to say to me. I want to I trust you I'm coming to you the truth. I want to know I trust your coming to you. Oh so she's found out everything poor woman poor old woman but what Allah to cool 10 o'clock she should be uncivil Now I must tell Phipps I'm not into anyone else Lord Cavil why Will parents always appear at the wrong time some extraordinary mistake in nature I suppose delighted to see you my dear father might clear Gulf is it worth while father call siddhis with one sorrow which is the most comfortable just this one father it is the chair I use myself when I have visitors think your. New draft I hope in this room no father let you hear it's a constant draw. Near drafts as good many breezes. Did I understand what you mean I wanted a serious conversation with your son my dear father at this hour well say it is ended kendo talk what is your objection to the Oh I think that all is an admirable Oh well the fact is Father this is not my day for talking seriously I'm very sorry but it is not my day what do you mean son during the season father I only talk seriously on the 1st Tuesday in every month from 4 to 7 will make it true states make it true but it is off to 7 father my doctor says I must not have any serious conversation after 7 it makes me talk in my sleep talking you will sleep so what does that matter you are not married to no father not married. Now that I just want I have come to talk to you about you have got to get married and at once Demi sec It is your to take to look at marriage you can't be always living for pleasure. You must get a wife so now look at your friend Robert Chilton has got by pretty hard work and a sensible marriage with a good woman why didn't you imitate him so why did you take him for you I think I shall father I wish you weren't sorry then I should be. I have here at present I make your mother's life miserable on your account now your heartless are quite heartless I have not fallen and it just high time for you to get married. Your 43 years of marriage so yes father that only admit to 3939 The Hoff and I have a really good buttonhole this bombshell is not trivial enough I tell you you are 43 star and there is a draft in your room besides which makes your conduct worse why did you not tell me there was a drunk. I feel a drug I feel it to stink here so do I father it is a dreadful draft I'll come and see you tomorrow father we can talk over anything you like let me help you with your cloak father No sir I have called this evening for a definite purpose and I am going to see it through at all costs to myself or yours put down the clerks are suddenly father but it is going to another room there was a dreadful draft here tips is there a good fire in the smoking room Yes my lord come in there Father you'll sneeze is a quite heart rending world so I suppose I have a right to sneeze when I trued white so father I was merely expressing sympathy damn sympathy that is a great deal too much of that sort of thing going on nor do I quite agree with you Father if there was less sympathy in the world there would be less trouble in the world that is a paradox I hate paradox those so do I father everybody one meets the paradox Nowadays it is a great bore it makes society so obvious do you always really understand what you're saying. Yes father if I listen attentively. If you listen attentively you can see did young puppet of the young generation according to. Tips there is a lady coming to see me this evening on particular business show her into the drawing room when she arrives you understand Yes I mean all this is a matter of the greatest importance Phipps I understand by lot no one else is to be admitted under any circumstances I understand by your house that is probably the. I shall see him myself and I can't wait to tell you this is not known and unknown father to excuse me if well remember my instructions hips into that room yes my lot . Snored glorying not here. I was told he was it who his lordship is engaged to present with Lord cavitation Mehta how they feel his lordship told me to ask you madam to be carted off to wait in the drawing room for him his lordship will come to you with their. Courting expects me yes madam I am quite sure he's more ship to me the different lady called I was to ask you 2 weeks in the drawing room his lordship's directions on the subject were better precise. That he thoughtful of him to expect the unexpected shoes of a modern intellect. Oh how dreary a batch in his drawing room or ways looks I shall have to alter all this. Now I don't care for the lamp it is far too glaring light some candles search and I imagine I hope the candles have very becoming shades we have had no complaints about the madam as yet. I wonder what woman he is waiting for to night he truth be delightful to catch him men always look so silly when they are caught and they are always being caught what if he interesting. What of that interesting picture. Wonder what he's correspondence is like. That handwriting. That is good truth Chilton's I remember if perfectly the 10 Commandments in every stroke of the pen in the moral law all over the page wonder what good you just backed into him. Some Hardee's about us about is how I detest that one. Just you I want to you I am coming to you true. I trust you I do to you I have come to hear who. Is the kindest of the drawing room and its madam as you directed Thank you I trust the shades will be to your liking madam they are the most becoming we have they are the same as his lordship uses himself when he is dressing for dinner then I am sure they will be perfectly right thank you madam I merely due to the drawing room madam yes thank you the fifths as the lady arrived yet she is weakening in the drawing room by law I must go back to my father. Well sir my dear father if I am to get married surely you will allow me to choose the time place and person particularly the person that is a matter for me so you would probably make a very portraits it is I who should be consulted not you that is property are at stake it is not a matter for affection affection comes later on in married life yes in married life affection comes when people fairly dislike each other father doesn't it certainly is I mean certainly not sorry you are talking 34 is there tonight what I say is that marriage is a matter of common sense but women who have common sense are so curiously playing father are they of course I only speak from hearsay no woman plain or pretty has any common sense or towards our common sense is the privilege of our stare It's quite so and we men are so self sacrificing that we never use it do we father. I use it so I use nothing else so my mother tells me. It is the secret of your mother's happiness sorry and you are very very octopus I hope not Father Good night father my day off and your servant has just told me we're not at home how extraordinary fact is I'm horribly busy tonight Robert I gave orders I was not at home to anyone even my father had a comparatively cold reception he complained of a draft the whole time now you must be at home to me I think you are my best friend perhaps by tomorrow you will be my only friend. My wife has discovered everything I guessed as much. Mrs Cheveley herself you have heard nothing from Vienna yet in answer to your wife yes I got a telegram from the 1st secretary to 8 o'clock tonight well nothing is absolutely known against her on the contrary shocked by the rather high position in society it is a sort of open secret the ban on home left with a great portion of his immense fortune beyond that I can learn nothing I'm parched with thirst may I ring for something some hot insults and certainly let me thanks. Oh I don't know what to do I. Don't know what to do and you are my only friend I can trust you absolutely come to my dear Robert of course Phipps bring some Hawkins Yes my lord and Phipps Yes my lot with us to be prevented Robert I want to get some directions to my servants are certainly And when that lady cools tell you that I'm not expected home this evening tell her that I have suddenly been called out of town to understand Diddy is in that room by gawd you told me to show but in to that room by law. You did perfectly right thing. Automatic I mean now I think I shall get through. His wife is in the drawing room behind the very door I know she must hear us I'll give Lady Chiltern a lecture through the door. Thing to manage that tell me what I should do Robert you love your wife your daughter I love her more than anything in the world I used to think ambition the great thing it is not love is the great thing in the world that is nothing but love and I love her but there is a wide gulf between us now she has found me out she has found me out has she never in her life done some folly some indiscretion that she should not forgive your sin my wife never she does not know what weakness all tempt tension is I am of clay like other men she stands apart as good women do pitiless and her perfection cold and stand on without mustard. But I love her. I love your childless and I have no one else to love no one else to love me your wife will forgive you perhaps at this moment she is forgiving you she loves you Robert why should she not forgive God grant it got granted but there is something more I have to tell you often Hawkins thank you for your carriage hero but no I won't from the club so Robert will take my captives Yes my Lord Robert you don't mind my sending you away you must let me stay for 5 minutes I have made up my mind what I'm going to do to night in the house the debate on the Argentine canal is to begin at 11. What is that nothing I heard of fall in the next room someone has been listening no there is no one there there is someone there are lights in the room the doors of jaw someone has been listening to every secret of my life I thought what does this mean Robert you are excited under I tell you there is no one in that room said Donal but do you give me your word there is no one there yes your word of honor Yes Let me see for myself no no if there is no one there why should I not look at it I don't take don't trouble there is someone there someone whom you must not think I thought I thought Did you to enter that room stand back my life is at stake I don't care who is there I will know who it is to whom I have told my secret and my share Great heavens you'll find his own wife. What. Well the explanation of you to get me for the presence of that woman that Robert I swear to you on my own other that lady is stainless and guiltless of all offense towards you she is a vile and infamous thing good don't say that all that it was for your sake she came here it was a try and save you she came here she loves you and no one else you were mad. What have I to do with her intrigues Will you let her remain yob mistress you're well suited to each other she corrupt and shameful you false as a friend treacherous as an enemy it is not true Robert before heaven it is not true in her presence and in yours I will explain all that made possible of light enough upon your word of honor Good Evening Star. Good evening. Mrs Cheeseman. Great heavens may I ask what you were doing in my drawing room. Listening I have a perfect passion for listening through Quixote one always hears that wonderful things through them I'm glad you called I'm going to give you some good advice pray don't want to never give a woman anything that you can't wear in the evening. I see you are quite as willful as you used to be far more I have greatly improved I have had more experience you have come here to sell me Robert children's letter haven't you how did you guess that because you haven't mentioned the subject have you got it with you know you own a dress has no pockets What is your price for it absolutely English you are the English thing the check book and so they have the problem in life why my idea Arthur I have very much more money than you have and quite as much as Robert children has got hold of money is not what I want what do you want them as achieving Why don't you call me a lot I don't like the name. You used to adore it yes that's why. I said you loved me once. And you asked me to be your wife that was the natural result of my loving you and you threw me of that because you saw or said you saw poor own Lord Mortlake trying to have a violent flirtation with me in the conservatory attended I'm under the impression that my lawyer settled that matter with you on certain terms dictated by yourself at the time I was poor you were rich quite so that's why you pretended to love me when you were silly Arthur why don't more take was never anything more to me than amusement one of those actively tedious amusements one only finds it an English country house ought to be in this country some day I don't think anyone at all morally responsible for what he or she does that an English country house yes I know lots of people think that. I loved you Arthur My dear Mrs Cheever you have always been far too clever to know anything about love I did love you and you love me. You know you love me and love is a very wonderful thing when I saw you last night at the Chilton's I knew you were the only person I had ever cared for if I had ever cared for anybody. And you know on the morning of the day you marry me I will give you Robert Chilton's letter that is my offer I will give it to you now if you promise to marry me now to morrow you really serious quite serious I should make you a very bad husband I don't mind bad husbands I have had to be amused me immensely you mean that you are muse yourself immensely don't you think it is quite charming of you to be so rude to a woman in your own house in the case of very fascinating women sex is a challenge not a defense that is made for a compliment my dear Arthur women are never disowned by compliments men always are that is the difference between the 2 sexes women are never disarmed by anything as far as I know them so well you men stand out for each other how you women war against each other only a war against one woman against Gertrude Chilton I hate her because you have brought a real tragedy into her life I suppose. There is only one real tragedy in a woman's life the fact that her past is always her lover and her future invariably her husband well I suppose this romantic interview may be regarded as as named you admit it was romantic Don't you for the privilege of being your wife I was ready to surrender a great prize the climax of my diplomatic career. You decline very well if the robot doesn't uphold my Argentine scheme I expose him. To you mustn't do that it would be vile horrible infamous Oh don't use big words they mean so little it is a commercial transaction that is all there is no good mixing sentimentality in it I offered to sell Robert children a certain thing maybe my price you have to pay the world a great price there is no more to be said I must go goodbye. To shake hands with you know your transaction with Robert children may pass as a little from commercial transaction of a loathsome commercial age producing to forgotten that you came here tonight to talk of love you lips desecrated the word love you to whom the thing is a book closely sealed with this afternoon to the house of one of the most noble and gentle women in the world to degrade her husband in her eyes to try and kill her love for him to put poison in her heart and bitterness in her life to break her idol and it may be spoil her soul that I cannot forgive you that was horrible for that there can be no forgiveness Oh Arthur you are unjust to me believe me you are quite And just to me. True to toll I had no idea of doing anything of the kind when I entered like old lady Mugby simply to ask whether an ornament a jewel that I lost somewhere last night had been found in the Children's to ask if a diamond brooch of mine had been found that was the origin of the whole thing a diamond snake brooch with a ruby Yes How do you know because it is found. In point of fact I found myself a stupid forgot to tell about anything about it I was leaving it in this drawer. This is the brooch isn't it. I am so glad to get it back it was a present when she wear it Secondly if you pin a teen there. Why did you put it on as a bracelet I didn't you could be worn as a bracelet written. To you then you went on me as a bracelet doesn't it is much better when I saw it last when did you see it was 10 years ago on Lady box from whom you stole it do you mean I mean that you stole that a woman from my cousin Mary boxer to whom I gave it when she was matted suspicion fell on a wretched servant who was sent away in disgrace I recognised it last night I determined to say nothing about it till I found the thief I found the thief now and I have heard her own confession it is not true you know it is true wife is written across your face at this moment. You know I don't home the fare from beginning to end oh I did. I did I didn't say this made you think that it was never in my possession the drawback of stealing a thing this is chiefly is that one never knows how wonderful the thing that one steals is you can get that bracelet off unless you know where the spring is and I say you don't know where the spring is it is rather difficult to find. It don't use big words they mean so little. To do and there's a ring for my servant he's an admirable servant always comes in the moment one rings for him when he comes I will tell him to fetch the police. To morrow the boxes will prosecute you that is what the police are for. I will do anything you want anything in the world you want to give me Robert children let us stop to have time to think give me your rubber Chilton's letter have not got it with me I will give it to you to morrow you know your line and give it to me at once. This is it. Yes. But it. Was a well dressed woman Mrs Cheever you have moments of admirable common sense I congratulate her she's getting a few hours of water certainly. And now. Good truths that. Your water oh no thank you. Please help me on with my cloak with pleasure thinks I am never going to try to harm Robert Chilton again fortunately you have not a chance which is truly what even if I had the chance I wouldn't On the contrary I am going to render him a great service and charm to hear it it is a reformation Yes I can't bear so upright a gentleman so owner of bull an English gentleman being so shamefully deceived and so well. I think that somehow the true Chilton's dying speech and confession has truly didn't it what do you mean I mean the guy I'm going to send Robert Chilton the love letter his wife wrote to you tonight love letter. After I want you I trust you. To be. Good shrewd and good night Richard woman give me not. Well sir what are you doing here at the Children's So Robert is still of the Foreign Office and Lady Chiltern is not done yet you must be wasting your time as usual I suppose my dear father when one pays a visit is for the purpose of wasting other people's time upon them. Have you been thinking over what I spoke to you about last night I have been thinking about nothing else in Gage to be married yet not yet but I have to be before lunch time you going to have children a time it would be of any convenience to you all thanks all for father but I think I'd sooner be engaged before lunch never know when you are serious or not neither do I father. I suppose you have read The Times this morning Good heavens no what does it say what should it say sir it says that to can speak last night on this Argentine canal scheme was one of the finest pieces of out of today ever delivered in the house to children uphold the scheme. How do you know him why he denounced it roundly and the whole system of modern political finance this speech is the turning point in his career as the Times points out who should be this article's a. Sort of a chill turn. Unblemished well known integrity of character represents what is best in English public life nubile contrast to the lecture. Mortality is so common among foreign politicians they will never say that of you so I sincerely have no father however I am delighted what you tell me about Robert Farley delighted it shows he has got pluck he has got more than pluck So he has got genius I prefer pluck. It is not so common nowadays as genius is I wish you would go into Parliament Oh my dear father only people who look dull ever get into the House of Commons and only people who are Dolliver succeed there why don't you try to do something useful in life I'm far too young I think this epic teacher no youth it is a great deal to prefer Lin's now or do you think Taishan youth is not why don't you propose to their pretty brisk I'm a very nervous disposition specially in the morning I didn't suppose there was the smallest chance of her to accepting your own I don't know how the betting stands today if she did accept true she would be the prettiest fool in England but he's just what I should like to marry a fairly sensible wife would reduce me to a condition of absolute idiocy in less than 6 months you don't deserve my dear father if we men marry the women we deserve we should have a very bad time of it. I can assure them I have laid you can assure Miss quite well later Kevin's room is as usual as usual good morning Miss Mabel are you here of course you understand that after breaking our plank and I'm never going to speak to you again oh please don't say such a thing you are the one person in London I really like to have to listen to a lot Gloria I never believe a single lead that either you or I say to each other you're quite right my dear quite right as far as he is concerned I mean do you think you could possibly make your son behave a little better occasionally just as the change I regret to say Mr Chilton that I have no influence at all over my son I wish I had if I had I knew what I would make him do I am afraid he is one of those to me weak natures that are not susceptible to influence is very hard clips Hotlips seems to me I am a little in the way here it is very good for you to be in the way and. You know what people say of you behind your back I don't like knowing what people say behind my back it makes me far too conceited off to vets my idea I really must bid you good morning i hope you are not going to leave me all alone with a lot Goring especially at such an early hour in the day I'm afraid I can't take him with me to Downing Street it is not the prime minister for seeing the unemployed. Good morning. People who don't keep their appointments in the pock detestable I'm glad you make it but I wish you would look so pieced about it I can't help it i always a please when I'm with you then I suppose it is my duty to remain with you of course it is well my duty is a thing I never do on principle it always depresses me so I am afraid I must leave you please don't Miss Mabel I have something very particular to say to you oh is it a proposal Well yes it is I am bound to say it is I am so glad I make it a rule never to accept proposals on Tuesdays Oh bother Tuesdays I love you I know and I think you might have mentioned it before I'm sure I've given you heaps of opportunities Mabel Do be serious please be serious that is the sort of thing a man always says to a girl before he has been married to her he never says it off to. Mabel I've told you that I love you can't you love me a little every time you see that if you knew anything about anything which you don't you would know that I do you every one in London knows it except you use a public scandal the way I adore you I've been going about the last 6 months telling the whole of society that I adore you I when do you consent to have anything to say to me I have no character left to chill and least I feel so happy that I'm quite sure I have no character left at all. You know I was awfully afraid of being refused but you never has been refused yet by anybody have you I can't imagine anyone refusing you of course I'm not nearly good enough for you maybe I am so glad I was afraid you would. And I'm I'm a little over 39 dare you look weeks younger than that house was he to say so I did it is only fair to tell you frankly that I'm fearfully extravagant but Syrian my author so wish to agree and I must go and seek the truth must you really are. Yes the neuter I want to talk to a particularly I've been waiting here all the morning to see either her or me just say you didn't come here express teacher proposed to me no that was a flash of genius you'll fast my last I'm delighted to hear it now I don't stare at the back in 5 minutes and don't fall into any temptations while I am away to Mabel while you are away there are none and makes me horribly dependent on you good morning how pretty you are looking help a you're looking at Shoot it is May speak out me good morning good morning Betty children. I should be in the conservatory under the 2nd palm tree on the. Second palm tree on the left yes the usual chain. Letter children I have a certain amount of very good news to tell you Mrs Cheveley gave me up Robert's letter last night and I burned it Rob it is safe safe. Oh. That. Was a good friend you are to him to us there is only one person now that could be said to be in any danger who is that yourself. In Danger What do you mean danger is too great a word it is a word I should have used but I mean to have something to tell you that may distress you that terribly distresses me yesterday evening you wrote me a very beautiful womanly letter asking me for my help you wrote to me as one of your oldest friends one of your husband's oldest friends. Mrs Cheever he stole that letter from my rooms well what use is it to have why should she not have it maybe children I will be quite frank with you. Mrs chiefly puts a certain construction on that letter and proposes to send it to your husband but what construction could she put on it if I in trouble in wanting you help trusting you. To come to you that you may have thought he saw me he. Was concealed in a room adjoining my library without my knowledge I thought that the person who was waiting in that room to see me was yourself Robert came in unexpectedly a chair or something fell in the room he forced his way in and he discovered we had a terrible scene I still thought it was you he left me in anger at the end of everything this is your letter she stole it when or how I don't know which was how did this happen at half past 10 and I propose that we tell Robert the whole thing at once You want me to tell you what I did the woman you expected was not Mrs civi but myself that it was I who used to it was concealed in a room in your house is home past 10 o'clock at night you want me to tell him that I think it is better that you should know the exact truth oh I couldn't. Do it you know you are wrong lady children the letter must be intercepted that is all this how can I do it let is of. The day he he opened them and handed them to him I did not ask the savants to bring his laces it would be impossible. Oh why didn't you tell me what to do I will go and see The myself and tell them that a certain letter paper is to be forwarded to Robert today and that in all costs it must not reach him. But his coming up stairs with a letter in his hand it has reached him already I'm a step into the conservatory you have saved his life what you don't. Have An Ideal Husband starring Alfred Molina and Jacqueline Bisset in a moment if you've missed anything so far you can listen online at www dot org Check the stations website and send us your comments and suggestions e-mail address is radio at l a t w dot org This is a theater. Additional support is provided by audio file the audiobook Agassi read reviews author profiles and get recommendations for thousands of audio books more informations at their website Audio File magazine dot com. Additional support as provided by the Department of Cultural Affairs city of Los Angeles formed in 1025 DCA promotes arts and culture as a way to ignite a powerful dialogue engage Ellie's residents and visitors and ensure Las varied cultures are recognized acknowledged and experienced more informations at culture l.a. Dot org. L.a. Theatre Works presents a room with a view and original commission adapted and directed by Kate McCall starring Eleanor Tomlinson Eugene Simon and Julian Sands persuade them that they must have our room I was so looking forward to having a few in this original adaptation of e.m. Forster as novel an encounter in Florence and an offer to exchange rooms brings George Emerson to the attention of Lucy honey church you won't fit to go home alone yes I am thank you very much but I had rather come with you and I would rather be alone when they meet again back home in England Lucy must negotiate the demands of her station with desires of her heart you would love to watch your love the boy body and soul plainly clear as he loves you you'll find a room with a view and hundreds of other audio plays at l a t w dot org. Now l.a. Theatre Works continues our production of an Ideal Husband by Oscar Wilde this letter of yours goes short I want you I trust I am coming to you truth. Oh my love is this true do you indeed trust me. And want me. If it was for me to come to you not for you to write of coming to me. Your letter makes me feel that nothing that the world may do can hurt me now you want me the truth yes you trust me Gertrude Yes Why did you not add your love to me because I know of to you or contribute to what I feel when Montfort possibly your letter across the table and I read it Oh I did not care what disgrace or punishment was in store for me I only thought you loved me still there is no disgrace in store for you nor any shame Mrs t.v. Has handed over to Lord Goring the document that was in her possession and he has destroyed it are you sure of this yes not Goring is just to me. And I'm safe. Oh oh. Oh what a wonderful thing to perceive for 2 days I've been in terror. I am safe now. How did offer destroy my letter tell me he burned it I wish I'd seen that one sin of my youth burning to ashes how many men there are in modern life who would like to see their past burning to white ashes before them is Arthur still here yes he's in the conservatory I'm so glad now I made that speech last night in the house. So glad I made it thinking that public disgrace might be the result but it has not been so public on a has been result I think so. I fear so whole most for although I am safe from detection although every proof against me is destroyed. I suppose Gertrude. I suppose I should retire from public life oh yes Robert you should do that it is your duty to do that it is much to surrender it will be much to gain and you would be happy living somewhere alone with me abroad perhaps away from public life you would have no regrets. And your ambition for me. Used to be ambitious for me my ambition. I have none but that we too may love each other it was your ambition that led you astray let us not talk about ambition Oh. I have to thank you for what you have done for me I don't know how I can repay you my dear fellow I tell you at once at the present moment under the usual palm tree I mean in the conservatory more chapters from that admirable father of mine really makes a habit of turning up the wrong moment it is very hard to solve a very heartless indeed Good morning little children warmest congratulations to you children on your brilliant speech last night I have just left the prime minister and you are to have been vacant seat in the cabinet. Seats in the cabinet here is the prime minister's letter thank you. A seat in the Cavendish certainly and you will deserve it too you have got 21 so much in political life nowadays high character. High principles everything that you have not got and never will have I don't like principles father I prefer prejudices I cannot accept this offer alone caption I have made up my mind to decline it to. My intention is to retire at once from public life to try to see to the cabinet and retire from public life never had such done not since in the whole course of existence but I beg your pardon Lady talked until to day my big goal pardon don't grin like that so no father little children you want a sensible woman the most sensible woman in London the most sensible woman I knew would you kindly prevent has been for making such a from her of talking such Would you kindly do that to children and I think my husband is right in his determination you don't have a sion I approve of this you approve all which good headphones I admire him for as I had my he meant me for as I have never had my time say much before he's fine I haven't even I thought him you will go and write your letter to the prime minister when she. Don't hesitate. I suppose I'd better write it want such offers are not repeated I will ask you to excuse me for a moment Lord Cashel I may come with you well good manners yes my dear we're choose the matter with the family sampling wrong here in the head it is hereditary I suppose and both of them true. Wife is well as has been is very sad very sad indeed and they are not an old family I can't understand it it is not idiocy father I assure you what is it Ben so well it is what is called nowadays a high moral tone Father that is all hate these newfangled names same thing as we used to call idiocy 50 years ago. Shan't stay in this house any longer just go in here for a moment father 2nd palm tree to the left the usual palm tree but I think a pardon Father I forgot the conservative fall of the conservatory there is some of that I want you to talk to what about about me father not a subject on which much eloquence is possible you know father the lady is like me she doesn't care much for eloquence in others she thinks it's a little loud always writing a letter. He children why you playing this is chiefly Scots I didn't understand you this is chiefly made an attempt to ruin your husband either to drive him from public life or to make him adopt a dishonorable position from the latter tragedy you saved him the former you are now thrusting on him why should you do him the wrong Mrs Chiley tried to do in failed lady children allow me you heard me a letter last night in which you said you trusted me and wanted my help. Now is the moment when you really want my help now is the time when you have got to trust me to trust in my counsel and judgment you love Robert do you want to kill his love for you what sort of existence will he have if you rob him of the fruits of his ambition if you take him from the splendor of a great political career if you close the doors of public life against him if you condemn him to stare out of failure he who is made for triumphant success but it is my husband himself who wishes to retire from public life he feels this is duty it was he who 1st rather than lose your love Robert would do anything wrecked his whole career as he is on the brink of doing now he is making for you terrible sacrifice take my advice lady children do not accept a sacrifice so great if you do you will live to repented bitterly we men and women are not made to accept such sacrifices from each other we are not worthy of them besides Robert has been punished enough we have both been punished I set him up too high to not for that reason set him down now too low if he has formed from his old I do not trust him into the mire failure to rob it would be the very mild of shame power is his passion he would lose everything even his power to feel love your husband's life is at this moment in your hands your husband's love is in your hands don't both for him. Here's the draft of my letter. I read it to you let me see it. For you doing so. I will not spoil your life and no see you spoil it is a sacrifice to me a useless sacrifice Gertrude Gertrude you can forget men easily forget and I forgave that is how women help the world I see that now I have just learned this from the Goring. My wife oh my do you wife. It seems that I'm always to be in your debt Oh dear no Robert your debt is a Lady Chiltern not to me know I know you much and not tell me what you're going to ask me just now I was more casual came in Robert you are your sister's guardian and I want your consent to my marriage with her that is all oh I am safe to do that. Thank you Lady Chiltern my sister to be your wife. Yes. I'm very sorry but the thing is quite out of the question. I have to think of Mabel's future happiness and I don't think I have been as would be safe in your hands and I cannot have a sacrificed sacrifice utterly sacrificed loveless marriage is a horrible but there is one thing worse than an absolutely loveless marriage a marriage in which there is love but on one side only faith but on one side only devotion but on one side only and in which of the 2 hearts one is short of the broken but I love Mabel no other woman has any place in my life through all that if they know of each other why should they not be married author cannot bring Mabel the love that she deserves what reason have you for saying that to really require me to tell you Secondly I do it well. When I called on you yesterday evening I found Mrs Cheveley concealed in your rooms it was between 10 and 11 o'clock at night I do not wish to say anything more robot it was no to Mrs Cheveley room no going expected last night. Not Mrs Jewkes the children don't he expected me. Want. Her To yesterday afternoon going told me that if ever I was in trouble I could come to Him for help as he was at oldest and best friend later on after that terrible scene in this room I wrote to him telling him that I trusted him that I had needed him but I was coming to him for help and advice yes that. I didn't get to know of going soft roll I felt that it is from ourselves alone that help can come pride made me think that Mrs Cheever he went she still my later unscented anonymously to you this morning that you should think. Overall 1st. I can tell you what she wished you to think. You can go to Mabel and you have my best wishes and. Well I hope she hasn't changed her mind as the 20 minutes since I saw the last. Thing I think you'll find this conversation much more improving than yours I know going stuck to a log cabin in the future and always under the usual. Darling what does this mean so you don't mean to say that this charming cliff i young lady has been served sister except you certainly father and childrens been wise enough to accept the seat in the cabinet I am very glad to hear that children I congratulate you aside if the country doesn't go to the dogs all the radicals we shall have you Prime Minister someday learn from the film and. You all stop to luncheon not cattish in which you were pleasure and I drive you dumb to Dunning street afterwards children you have a great future a great future I wish I could say the same for you. But your code will have to be entirely domestic. Yes father I prefer a domestic and if you don't make. This young lady Ideal Husband I'll cut you off with a shilling and Ideal Husband I took the cash like that sounds like something in the next well old what do you want him to be then maybe he can be watching each users all I want is to be a real wife to him upon my word there is a great deal of common sense in that clip you. Come alone. Aren't you coming in rubbish. Is it love you feel for me or is it pity and manly it is novel but. Love and only love. For both of us a new life is the gaining. 6 peace is only theater works production of an Ideal Husband by Oscar Wao if you've missed anything so far like to listen to this show online visit us at l a t w dot org or check this station's website for more information additional support for l.a. Theatre Works as provided by the National Endowment for the Arts an independent federal agency the n.e.a. Funds promotes and strengthens the creative capacity of our communities by providing all Americans with diverse opportunities for arts participation visit our stock of to learn more about the n.e.a. . I'm joined now by Michael hack at the chair of the department of theatre at the University of California Los Angeles in addition to his extensive directorial work for any feature works which includes plays by Oscar Wilde Tennessee Williams and noël coward Michael has directed for the Royal Opera Covent Garden the Royal Theatre at the Hague and the Los Angeles Opera welcome Michael thank you Susan you not only directed this production has been sweet little also adapted it for the radio with Martin Jarvis What changes did you have to make in order for the play to be more accessible to the radio audience Well part of it just has to do with the nature of radio itself that the dramatic action has to make sense aurally but I have to tell you one of the best things about working for l.a. Theatre Works is my friendship with Martin Jarvis thanks to you because he began his early career in the b.b.c. Radio and. So when I collaborated the 1st time with Martin he taught me the tricks of in a sense timing how do you think about a scene in terms of its timing how does one scene follow the next where is it appropriate for Foley such as teacups for example or a Doors opening closing or and or in this piece you'll hear Jacqueline Bisset a rifling through the Robert Chiltern's desk and she's looking for a letter this letter is key to the meaning of the 2nd half of the play because it's going to be used as blackmail and then finally to Fort the evil character Mrs Cheveley played by Jacqueline Bisset where you Wild fan before you took on an ideal husband I was a fan in the sense that he intrigues me the story of his life and of course the extraordinary language because I had taught for 3 years at the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art and Wilde was someone that was always assigned to the students so I would go in admiration to see them performing while performing Shaw It's interesting in England that they would group together a series of plays that we might not at 1st group together they would group together coward and con grieve they called these plays of style and printer believe it or not interesting because it requires a certain use of language and an idea of comedy of manners based on sort of sociological and class ways of interacting on a daily basis but the to answer your question no I had actually never directed Wilde and so this was an opportunity to start thinking about how you might do that few critics have been able to agree on whether an ideal husband is a melodrama a dark comedy our social satire How would you describe it I think. I think it's all 3 and I think what wild does in this play and with those other plays of manners is that he actually almost didn't. Expressionistic way creates a sort of 19th century play but then he starts to pull it apart and comment on it and that's very very hard on one level you have to be a really good actor to understand where you fit within the framework of what he's doing because you have to play it very legitimately and very seriously and at the same time he gives you opportunities at certain points to comment on it so you can comment on your own performance ironically that's hard to get a balance and again on the stage if you see it on the stage you could extend to 8 those things but even in these versions that I've done for you for the radio I have tried to create rapid or encourage the actors to have rapid shifts from comedy to tragedy and in between and I take it with great rapidity because in radio silence is usually deadly so people have to make very instant transitions It's almost like Jack Oliver One moment they're crying in the next minute they're laughing except that it's not check no you're right and I think also why old perhaps doesn't have the same definition of quote unquote psychological realism or naturalism that we might have in the 1940 s. Or the 1950 s. In the plays of Miller or Williams And so he excel or rates those rapid psychological shifts the political issues raised by the play are as timely today as when the play was written over a century ago what about the relationships between the male and the female characters can a contemporary audience Adana file with wild upper class Victorians I think the relationships between men and women are very different than our own especially in Los Angeles and Southern California in the 21st century so I know for example when I'm sharing these plays with my students sometimes. Because they find the relationship squeamish because they immediately assume that the woman is in a subservient position or that she's put down or that she's a 2nd class citizen to her husband because it's true on some level she does not have economic power and really has to express herself through the male definition of her family but on other levels the women are enormously powerful and Miriam Margolyes For example playing Lady Markby gives an example of that kind of power because within her social realm she is manipulating aspects of the play in a very fascinating way and that's true of Mrs Cheveley and Lady Chiltern as well well I think the interesting thing about Mrs Cheveley is it's not so much a manipulation I mean it's a really a confrontation I mean she's based she's blackmailing us and she's involved in politics yeah in a behind the scenes way but she's actually a political creature what about the politics because it seems to me that his portrait of the dilemma of this politician this ambitious rising politician Chiltern and the dilemma that he finds himself in has a lot of resonance well in today when when this 1st premiered which was in 1907 meaning on the radio there was also the issue of Clinton scandals and the idea or the question of Should a person be condemned in their life for an indiscretion from the past that seems like a small indiscretion by comparison or could be seen as a small and indiscretion by comparison to the importance that person has in the political scene and what it what are the what are the effects of telling a lie at the beginning of your life or and that was very fascinating because it calls on issues. Of truth and politics and whether being a political person means you can ever be idealistic that's one of the questions I think. I've been speaking with Michael Hackett the chair of the department of theatre at u.c.l.a. You can hear more of our conversation at our website go to l.a. To. An Ideal Husband stock Jacqueline Bisset dismisses chapter Alfred Molina as by Count Goring arson Jarvis s. Or Robert Chilton at Rosslyn dares Paul detract Robert McRae Miriam Margolyes Jim Norton and artlessness stage manager and live sound effects in a strong technical director rain in one directory is Michael. Bell a theater work senior radio producer is Ron look at that Co composed our theme music if you live in the Los Angeles area and you'd like to be in the audience for one of our shows visit l a t w dot org to see what we're staging next you can also browse our audio catalogue of over 500 places available as downloads and cd and discover more about our educational programs for teachers and schools I'm Susan Low in Perth producing director of an atheist or. L.a. Theatre Works records place before a live audience at the u.c.l.a. James bridges theatre 7 times a year more information at l a t w dot org. Additional support for l.a. Theatre Works is provided by the Capital Group. L.a. Theatre Works relativity series podcast features science theme plays about subjects including astronomy physics medical ethics and more bleed funding for the relativity series is provided by the Alfred p. Sloan Foundation bridging science and the arts in the modern world. Hello I'm Sarah Cahill host of revolutions per minute inviting you to join me each Sunday evening here on k l w for classical music historical recordings and special guests here in the studio recent guests have included David Harrington from the Chronos quartet composer John Adams and lutenist Esteban Loretta playing his renaissance flute on the air so join me from $8.00 to $10.00 each Sunday night 4 revolutions per minute. On the next starts of space emerging from the dark days into the season of light with music by allowing a victory for the sullen Devon carer Helen Jane long San Felipe and more from Steve in a program called after gloom delight on the next hearts of space. Hearts of space 2 hours of music for her to play Sion and other pleasures Sunday night at 10 pm here on 91.7. Francisco the time is 11 o'clock time now for music from other minds. Music from other minds a weekly program on k l w produced by other minds in San Francisco presenter of one of America's leading new music festivals 'd. This is Charles armor Kanya executive and artistic director of other minds welcoming you to the broadcast hosted each week by another of our family of new music presenters we've been you the latest in contemporary music from around the world along side some glimpses into the past to give a context for today's music. For more information about the composers and performers over other minds visit other mines. But. The way. They. Did. It I think.