In a group of four we were given the task of producing a five to seven minute radio drama. I listened to three radio dramas to help me to be aware of what was needed to make a successful one. I listened to The Giant' from Chris Morriss' Blue Jam' , Les Liasons Dangereuses' and The Goon Show'.
Les Liasons Dangereuses', a BBC adaptation of a novel by Chodeleros De Laclos. The story is set in August 1785, in pre-revolutionary France. With the action centred around the world of the French aristocracy. The play begins with a narrated introduction by John Moffat. He sets the scene, speaking over non-diagetic Celeste piano music and giving biographical details on the characters currently in the scene. His tone, accent and language are all upper-class and are spoken in a slightly conversational tone that you would expect from the novel. The first scene introduces most of the main characters in the play. .
There is the young Cecile who is fifteen years old, and new to society having just left convent school. Her tone is not very confident and she seems to be getting used to the proper form of addressing other. .
Her mother Mme de Volanges who with the help of La Marquis de Merteuil are affably guiding her through her introduction into society.
The introduction of Lord Valmont into the room is a cause of contention for Mme de Volanges as he is the embodiment of what she wants to protect her daughter from, and she soon exits the scene with her daughter. This leaves La Marquis de Merteuil' and Lord Valmont alone. The role of the Marquis' changes as she shows her true colours as she and Valmont' begin a scintillating plot of sexual conquerism.
Like most radio dramas, which are set in foreign countries for but put out for British broadcast the speech is pre-dominantly English. Albeit, with slight interjections of French, from servants and characters whose speech is of little importance, possibly as a way to remind the audience of the setting.