The Red House Mystery & more

A dramatisation of A. A. Milne’s only detective novel, plus two of his sparkling comedies

A.A. Milne achieved lasting fame as the creator of Winnie-the-Pooh, but he was much more than just a children’s writer. A prolific novelist, playwright and humorist, he penned numerous works for adults, and this collection showcases three of the best, imbued with his signature wit and charm.

The Red House Mystery – When a house party in the quiet English countryside turns into a murder scene, amateur sleuth Antony Gillingham takes on the mantle of Sherlock Holmes, with his friend Bill Beverley as his willing Watson. As they investigate their host’s disappearance and the fatal shooting of his long-lost brother, the duo find themselves uncovering a secret passage, dealing with the resident ghost and diving into the lake to retrieve a vital underwater clue… Alex Jennings and Jonathan Firth star in this adaptation of A. A. Milne’s delightfully droll locked-room mystery.

Mr Pim Passes By – Calling round to Marden House with a letter of introduction, the elderly, absent-minded Mr Carraway Pim is graciously received by magistrate George Marden and his charming wife Olivia. But in the course of his visit, he drops a bombshell, leading the couple to believe they may have unintentionally comitted bigamy… Starring James Thomason as Mr Pim, with Penelope Lee as Olivia and Clifford Norgate as George.

The Dover Road – Waylaid and unavoidably detained by the mysterious Mr Latimer, two eloping couples discover that reality of co-existing with their prospective spouses does not live up to the romantic fantasy. Ronald Ward, Norman Claridge, Gudrun Ure, Michael Spice and Penelope Lee star in this 1962 production of Milne’s engaging three-act farce.

Due to the age of the recordings, the sound quality may vary.

Production credits
Written by A. A. Milne

The Red House Mystery

Antony Gillingham – Alex Jennings
Bill Beverley – Jonathan Firth
Philip Cayley – John Telfer
Lady Sarah Redhead – Sarah Lawson
Mark/Robert Ablett – Christian Rodska
Ruth Norris – Jenny Coverack
Inspector Birch – David Lloyd
Elsie/Angela Norbury – Nicole Arumugam
Mrs Stevens/Mrs Norbury – Angela Newmarch

Dramatised by Sue Rodwell

Directed by Sara Davies

First broadcast BBC Radio 4, 2 September 2000

Mr Pim Passes By

Olivia – Penelope Lee
George – Clifford Norgate
Mr Pim – James Thomason
Dinah – Sandra Freeman
Brian Strange – Peter Craze
Lady Marden – Judith Fellows

Adapted for radio by John Richmond

Directed by John Pitman

First broadcast BBC Light Programme, 1 November 1961

The Dover Road

Mr Latimer – Ronald Ward
Leonard – Michael Spice
Anne – Gudrun Ure
Eustasia – Penelope Lee
Nicholas – John Baddeley
Dominic – Norman Claridge

Adapted for radio by Cynthia Pughe

Produced by Norman Wright

First broadcast BBC Light Programme, 13 June 1962

With thanks to Keith Wickham and The Radio Circle.

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