Mercury Theatre on the Air

Sredni Vashtar / An Irishman and a Jew

Lady Esther Presents

CBS (1941)

English · Dramatic Readings, Radio

Orson Welles’s Mercury Theatre on the Air brings literary works to radio through dramatic adaptations performed by a company of actors. Welles is the program’s central creative presence, introducing and shaping stories for an audience listening at home.

The broadcast pairs “Sredni Vashtar,” adapted from Saki’s story of a boy and his secret devotion to a fierce, imagined protector, with “An Irishman and a Jew.” The two pieces offer contrasting dramatic material, moving from darkly comic literary fantasy to a second story presented in the same theatrical radio format.

With expressive performances, narration, and sound used to make the scenes vivid, the program has the feel of a compact stage production created for the ear. Its blend of literary adaptation and Welles’s distinctive dramatic style makes this broadcast a compelling example of classic radio theatre.

This recording is part of the Old Time Radio collection.