Right Ho, Jeeves

Setting out to prove that he can solve problems with the skill of his butler, Jeeves, Bertie Wooster schemes to help Gussie Fink-Nottle and Tuppy Glossop with their romantic problems. Of course, Bertie's plans are destined to "strew ruin and desolation" in the manner of Attila the Hun, as his Aunt Dahlia suggests. Jonathan Cecil reads the story with a fine ear for comic wordplay and absurdity, giving fitting caricatured voices to the likes of Fink-Nottle and Glossop. He gives Wooster's first-person narrative the right balance, letting the bumbling hero misread situations as needed. The chaos builds toward a crescendo of levity that will be a favorite among Wodehouse fans. J.A.S. (c) AudioFile 2005, Portland, Maine

In Wodehouse's madcap fashion, this delightful full-cast recording treats listeners to the hilarity of self-centered, scatterbrained Bertie Wooster and his implacable, all-knowing manservant, Jeeves. As they find themselves in another zany situation, lost love, drunkenness, and colliding romantic schemes are all folded into an impeccably recorded and energetically played story. When Aunt Dahlia breezes in, the energy level rises perceptibly. Stealing the show are nervous and repressed Gussie Fink-Nottle and Tuppy Glossop, and a swooning, dreamy love interest--perfectly lightweight as well. The BBC still delivers the best audio theater in the game, and more productions like this would be worthy additions to the genre. D.J.B. (c) AudioFile 2006, Portland, Maine

Rich, do-nothing Brit Bertie Wooster and his resourceful, imperturbable valet, Jeeves, are mixed up in two faltering romances and many comic misunderstandings in this classic period piece. Nicolas Coster's slightly gravelly voice is likable and expressive, and his acting is very good, though his voice sounds too old for Bertie, who narrates. And Coster should have done more to distinguish among characters' voices, especially those of Bertie and Jeeves, though one doesn't actually confuse them. Unfortunately, he reads dialogue one beat and narration two beats too slowly, at times rendering leaden or slow what should be bright and sparkling. Still, Wodehouse's writing and Coster's comic acting are winning, and the program, on the whole, is more amusing than irritating. W.M. (c) AudioFile 2008, Portland, Maine

Idle young Bertie Wooster, embroiled in other people's romances and his aunt's financial difficulties, can only be extricated by his astute manservant, Jeeves, in this 1930s comedy. Martin Jarvis, a fine reader and voice actor, shows effortless comic timing, variety, and ability to express thoughts and feelings. His Bertie is excellent, with the proper mixture of sprightliness, goofiness, decency, and conceit. But Bertie and Jeeves, the two main voices, are similar, and one is conscious of one man reading two parts. Some of the other voices are not fully convincing. But, overall, Jarvis's energy and skill make for a bright and amusing performance of a bright and amusing book. W.M. (c) AudioFile 2009, Portland, Maine

Narrator Greg Wagland delightfully brings the classic duo of Bertie Wooster and his wise butler, Jeeves, to life in this Wodehouse classic. His excellent comic timing makes the most of every one of Bertie's disastrous plans and not so bons mots. And his depiction of Jeeves has the listener keenly awaiting the brilliant man servant's every word. Bertie has decided he can solve the romantic problems of his chums Gussie and Tuppy much better than Jeeves can. He puts alcohol in the orange juice of soft-spoken Gussie and provokes a bit of jealousy in Tuppy--with very unintended consequences that are hilarious. Wagland brings out every laugh when besotted and newly verbose Gussie hands out prizes at a boys' school, giving one of the craziest speeches in comic literature. S.G.B. © AudioFile 2017, Portland, Maine

Narrator Simon Jones breathes life into the character of English gentleman Bertie Wooster as he tries to assist in three different love affairs--with disastrous yet comic consequences. Jones shines in conveying the superciliousness of Wooster; the level-headedness of his valet, Jeeves; and the crazy antics of the lovelorn. A comedy of errors ensues that only worsens as Wooster tries to play matchmaker, a situation that Jones plays to great effect. He particularly makes the listener laugh in the scene where the teetotaler Gussie Fink-Nottle gets drunk before speaking at a school awards ceremony and says all manner of inappropriate things. Jones then wraps things up as Jeeves steps in at the end of the book to save the day and fix the muddle created by Wooster. V.M.G. Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award © AudioFile 2019, Portland, Maine