麻豆约拍

Lovesick is the fourth drama in Emile Zola: Sex, inspired by literature鈥檚 greatest ever whistle-blower, and his epic saga of the Rougon Macquart families.

Adelaide Fouque (Dide) is 104 years old, trapped in her small room in the local asylum, but omniscient when it comes to her extended family. As a young woman, she gave birth to two dynasties that exemplified French society: one legitimate - rich, powerful, obsessive and corrupt; the other - illegitimate, poor, vulnerable, weak and depraved. France is on the brink of a new Empire. Her family is a turbulent mix of the good, the bad and the misguided.

In episode four, Lovesick, Dide reflects on the fate of Angelique, the love child of the incestuous affair in the previous episode. Abandoned by her real mother and cruel foster carers, Angelique is fortunate enough to be adopted by Hubertine, a kind woman desperate to have a child. Angelique is a strange, obsessive child, inheriting much of the dangerous Macquart-Rougon traits. Dide watches helplessly as Angelique鈥檚 love of God clashes fatally with her love of a beautiful young man. Tragedy is the inevitable conclusion.

Dan Rebellato is a Sony nominated writer and Professor of Theatre at Royal Holloway.

Cast:
Dide......................Glenda Jackson
Angelique...............Robyn Skeete
Hubertine................Mina Anwar
Renee.....................Anna Maxwell Martin
Girl at the stream.....Lucy Moss
St Catherine.............Yusra Warsama

Dramatised by Dan Rebellato
Sound Designer: Eloise Whitmore

Produced and Directed by Polly Thomas
Executive Producer: Melanie Harris
Series Producer: Susan Roberts

A Sparklab production for 麻豆约拍 Radio 4