Bridget Boland The Return

SANWAL

(5 stars; 2 reviews)

The Return aka Journey to Earth By Bridget Boland   Adapted for broadcasting by the author A nun's return to the modern world after 36 years of seclusion in a convent.    Flora Robson Festival Dame Flora stars in some of her favourite plays Cast m order of speaking: The Chaplain: James Thomason The Prioress: Betty Hardy Sister Agatha: Flora Robson Lay Sister: Gwen Berryman Peter Swithin: Gabriel Woolf Angela Swithin: Hilda Schroder Cyril PIummer: Denys Blakelock Produced By: Graham Gauld SATURDAY-NIGHT THEATRE Sat 4th Nov 1967 20:30 on BBC Home Service In 1913, the very wealthy, but awkward 22 year old Agatha Fosdyke, convinced of her vocation entered a convent of enclosed nuns. Now, in 1949, Sister Agatha has had enough. She has lost her vocation, can't stand the life style any longer and wants out. Eventually she convinces the Chaplain that despite being 58 (despite!) and only having a few remaining years, she can make a new life for herself gets her dispensation from her lifetime vows. She goes to live in London with her nephew and his wife in a teeny tiny flat and goes to live her nephew and his wife in a whole new world. A world where she has missed two world wars. Boredom hits her. She goes back to the village where she was the daughter of the grandest house with servants and people tipping their hat to her as she passed in order to be of service. What she finds is a small bustling town where everyone has indoor toilets and 'charity' is dispensed by the state as social services. But she is a strong woman and decides her path in life must be in service, so turning over her non-inconsiderable annuity to her cash-strapped nephew she finds herself a job in a factory that makes radio parts for export - and exports help the country - and a little cottage nearby and pronounces herself happy.

This recording is part of the Old Time Radio collection.