Posted by PeterH on December 27, 2006 at 14:22:48 from 81.155.56.244 user Peter_H.
In Reply to: Re: Old Peter's Russian Tales on BBC Radio 4 posted by Jenny Berki on December 27, 2006 at 12:29:48:
I will be interested to hear what you think of the Radio 4 'Old Peter', Jenny. I am afraid that, for me, the 'Tales' are spoilt by having 'Old Peter', as played by Trevor Cooper, speak in a kind of Northern England accent, and the children likewise. 'Peter' is an old Russian forester, and the 'Russian-ness' of these tales is an essential part of them. I can see the BBC mind working here - let's have 'Peter' as an English equivalent, so that everyone will get the message that he is a working man, who knows a thing or two. Hence the Northern accent, but you have to keep reminding yourself of this 'logic' and it gets in the way. A Russian accent would subliminally remind the listener that these people are Russian, with Russian traditions and outlook. I find myself thinking that 'Old Peter' sounds more like a Yorkshire know-all.