New England Nun (radio)

A New England Nun is a radio program from the American radio anthology series "Radio Tales". The anthology series adapted classic works of American and world literature for the radio. The series was a recipient of numerous awards, including four Gracie Allen Awards from the Foundation of American Women in Radio and Television (in 2004, [ [http://www.awrt.org/press-releases/2004/Press_Release_%20Announce_Winners.pdf "AWRT Press Release"] AWRT.org. Accessed March 21, 2008.] 2003, [ [http://www.npr.org/about/press/030402.gracie.html "NPR Productions Win Gracie Allen Awards"] NPR.org. Accessed March 21, 2008.] 2001, [ [http://web.archive.org/web/20011126020253/www.awrt.org/awards/2000GracieWinners.html "2001 Gracie Allen Award Winners"] AWRT.org, as indexed by the Internet Archive at Archive.org. Accessed March 21, 2008.] and 1998), a New York Festivals WorldMedal, [ [http://web.archive.org/web/20050207122048/http://www.newyorkfestivals.com/res/pdf/2004RPwinners.pdf "2004 Winners, Radio Programming and Promotion, New York Festivals"] NewYorkFestivals.com, as indexed by the Internet Archive at Archive.org. Accessed March 21, 2008.] and a Golden Reel Merit Award. [ [http://web.archive.org/web/20010802161539/www.nfcb.org/2001reelsinfo.html "NFCB Announces 2001 Golden Reel Award Winners"] NFCB.org, as indexed by the Internet Archive at Archive.org. Accessed March 21, 2008.] Radio Tales' “A New England Nun" was an adaptation of the classic short story of the same name by Mary Eleanor Wilkins Freeman.

Broadcast History

The Radio Tales production of “A New England Nun” was first broadcast via NPR on December 4, 2001 [National Public Radio: "NPR Quarterly Edition Fall 2001". NPR Marketing, Vol. VII, No. IV] . The program encompassed one half-hour installment that was distributed to NPR member stations as part of the NPR Playhouse cultural series. Since November 28th, 2002, the entire Radio Tales series has aired in reruns on the Sonic Theater channel (163) of the XM Satellite Radio service [ [http://www.xmradio.com/onxm/features/sonictheater.xmc "Sonic Theater"] XMRadio.com. Accessed May 22, 2008.] . Radio Tales' “A New England Nun" debuted on XM Satellite Radio on June 28, 2003.

Production Information

The program was produced and script edited by series producer Winnie Waldron, who also served as the on-air host [ [http://www.winifredphillips.com/wp_bio.html "Winifred Phillips Official Site: Biography"] Winifredphillips.com. Accessed May 19, 2008.] . Composer Winifred Phillips created over twenty-eight minutes of music for the program, and also performed as the featured actress [ [http://www.mninter.net/~jstearns/nprPH.html#top "NPR Playhouse - January - March, 2001"] MNinter.net. Accessed March 21, 2008.] . “A New England Nun” was part of the sixth year of Radio Tales on NPR Playhouse [National Public Radio: "NPR Quarterly Edition Fall 2001". NPR Marketing, Vol. VII, No. IV] .

Media

The Radio Tales production of “A New England Nun” has been available in numerous formats and venues, including burn-on-demand CDs manufactured and distributed by MP3.com [ [http://web.archive.org/web/20031129193548/artists.mp3s.com/artists/33/npr_radio_tales.html "MP3.com: Radio Tales"] MP3.com, as indexed by the Internet Archive at Archive.org. Accessed July 15, 2008.] and Ampcast.com [ [http://web.archive.org/web/20060212003627/http://www.ampcast.com/music/25229/artist.php "Ampcast.com: Radio Tales"] Ampcast.com, as indexed by the Internet Archive at Archive.org. Accessed July 15, 2008.] . Beginning in 2005, programs from the series, including “A New England Nun”, have been available for download via the Audioville.co.uk web site [ [http://www.audioville.co.uk/store/view.php?Id=523&ProductCategoryId=59 "audioVille | Stor>>Fiction | Radio Tales | Download Audio Books, Podcasts and more in MP3. Comedy, Fiction, sport, news, science, drama."] Audioville.co.uk. Accessed September 27, 2008.] .

Opening narration

Plot Summary

On a beautiful, peaceful late afternoon, Louisa Ellis sews at her sitting-room window. An hour later, her fiancé Joe Dagget arrives. Louisa and Joe exchange a few short pleasantries between the long uncertain silences. Louisa asks about Joe’s day spent haying in the ten-acre lot, and later inquires about Lily Dyer, the girl caring for Joe’s aged mother. He blushes at the question, affirms that the girl is very helpful. Nervously, Joe fiddles with some books on the table, which makes Louisa uncomfortable – she replaces them as they originally were arranged. At length, Joe stands to leave, stumbles, jostles the table and tumbles Louisa’s sewing basket to the floor. She assures him that she’ll clean up later, and he leaves the house. They are both relieved.

Many years ago, Joe and Louisa had become engaged to be married, and shortly thereafter Joe set off to Australia. Determined not to return and marry Louisa until he had made his fortune, Joe remained in Australia for fourteen years. Louisa had waited for him, but at some point during that time the waiting had transformed into a peaceful and well-ordered lifestyle. Louisa had given every small detail of her home a wealth of loving attention, from the distilled roses to the linen seams, every gleaming surface dusted with gentle care, every item assigned its perfect place. These are all things that Louisa is now loathe to give up.

Walking under the full moon that night, Louisa finds a seat on a low stone wall in a spot where she can admire the blackberry vines and wonder if wild grapes had given the air its delicious scent, all the while feeling a tinge of sorrow and loss. From this vantage point she overhears a conversation from further along the wall, and recognizes the voices of Joe Dagget and Lily Dyer. Clearly, they are in love. Joe tells Lily that he is determined to meet his obligation and marry Louisa, and Lily agrees firmly that he should do the honorable thing. But Lily also proclaims (in a curiously loud voice) that she will never marry as long as she lives, because she is sure she will not love another man the way she loves Joe. After this, Joe and Lily depart and Louisa returns home.

The next day, when Joe comes to see her, Louisa releases Joe from his obligation, while never mentioning Lily. She tells him that she is too accustomed to her way of life, and he agrees that breaking off the marriage is for the best. They part affectionately, and though Louisa mourns that night for what might have been, she feels only a sense of triumph the next morning. For a long time, her life had been devoted to one calling -- the appreciation of simple, beautiful things, and the discipline required to preserve them. Like a nun without a cloister, she can now continue to pursue that calling for as long as she wishes. Birdsong and the thrumming of a summer afternoon fill the air as Louisa offers thanks to heaven for the gifts which she now will be able to keep.

References

External Links

* [http://www.audioville.co.uk/store/view.php?Id=523&ProductCategoryId=59 A New England Nun streaming audio sample on Audioville.co.uk]

* [http://www.radiotales.com/ The Official Radio Tales® Web Site]
* [http://www.audioville.co.uk/store/view_productcategory.php?Id=59 Radio Tales® Streaming Audio Samples on AudioVille]
* [http://www.xmradio.com/onxm/channelpage.xmc?ch=163 XM Satellite Radio - Information about Sonic Theater Channel]