Fathers And Sons By Brian Friel [Drama On 3]

Fathers and Sons' by Brian Friel, after the novel by Ivan Turgenev. Fathers: Charles Dance, James Fleet. Sons: Edward Bennett, George Blagden.

In Turgenev's prescient 1859 story of generational collision, both young heroes seem, at first, passionate revolutionaries, believing the old Russia should be swept away. But they're unsure what they'd replace it with. This clash of values is dramatic, funny and recognisably up-to-date, with Julia McKenzie as a batty princess, Lisa Dillon a self-searching widow, Gabrielle Lloyd a loving mother and Martin Jarvis as odd-ball Uncle Pavel.

Turgenev's darkly observant human comedy examines a particular period in Russian history which, in this epic production, foregrounds the eventual political struggle. And Friel, with benefit of hindsight, allows a glimpse of the future. Movingly, the play reminds us that it's the eternal values of love, friendship, loyalty and devotion that will, ultimately - hopefully - survive.

Nikolai Kirsanov ... James Fleet

Arkady ... George Blagden

Vassily Bazarov ... Charles Dance

Yevgeny ... Edward Bennett

Princess Olga ... Julia McKenzie

Anna Sergeevna ... Lisa Dillon

Pavel ... Martin Jarvis

Arina ... Gabrielle Lloyd

Fenichka ... Lucy Phelps

Dunyasha ... Joanna Cassidy

Katya ... Matilda Wickham

Piotr ... Kieran Hodgeson

Fedka ... Darren Richardson

Prokofyich and Timofeich ... Nigel Anthony

Musicians: Michael Lan, Stavros Dritsas, Louis Baily,

Djordje Gajic, Richard Sisson

Music advisers: Lucy Parham, Richard Sisson

Sound design: Mark Holden

Produced and directed by Martin Jarvis and Rosalind Ayres

A Jarvis and Ayres Production for BBC Radio 3.

Martin Jarvis and Rosalind Ayres direct a dynamic dramatisation of Turgenev's novel.