The show had P. G. Wodehouse's Bertie Wooster (Steven Pacey) doing a banjo concert in the local village hall. His Butler, Jeeves (Malcolm Sinclair) breaks the news that the banjo is missing and they re-enact a recent weekend houseparty with comic complications. The disc attempts to recapture that madness by presenting a recording which is accompanied by a "Publisher's Note" saying "Due to technical difficulties, Mr. Wooster's live performance was not recorded. The publishers wish to apologise for this uncharacteristic confusion. They hope that the enclosed recording of the events which replaced the original concert will make up for any disappointment experienced by banjo aficionados." It is that kind of a package ... and I think it is a kick!

You should all be warned, however, that the disc bears more resemblance to a musical program than a recording of a musical's score. The disc is only 59:24 and a full 19 minutes of that is dialogue. Forty minutes include eleven songs and a "Banjo Mix" medley. (No Banjo in the band - remember it was missing!) The sound of it all is small ... as befits the piece. The cast of 11 is accompanied by a band of 6 and 4 backing singers.

I have complained about discs with scenes (not even underscored scenes at that) when the producers don't take care to make sure the tracks cue at the right point. Here they did take care and programming to hear just music tracks results in just that. I'm grateful.

Review by Brad Hathaway