Sredni Vashtar
Ten-year-old Conrad is having an unhappy time of it, but he believes his pet ferret will avenge his woes.
Beasts on the Lawn: Saki 2011
Original stories by Saki (H.H Munro)
Adapted by Sean Grundy
Beasts on the Lawn is a collection of Edwardian short stories by Saki (H.H Munro) recycled and restaged in a modern day gated community for the far too wealthy for their own good. The tales are woven together by the character of Clovis, a security guard. She recalls the events of strange days and long nights.
Episode Three: Sredni Vashtar
When Conrad de Ropp Snr is given 'gardening leave' from his bank, his time at home coincides with his adopted ten year old son's (Conrad Jnr) school holiday. It's a sobering time, mainly because Conrad Snr had almost forgotten the boy existed. Snr thinks Jnr spends far too much time on his own in the garden. He's occupying himself in the shed, and Snr wonders if the boy has found himself an unhealthy habit. But it's not sexual, it's religious. Jnr has got himself an idol. To anyone else it's just a pet ferret, but to little Conrad it's Sredni Vashtar, a vengeful, merciless god. He loves it. He worships it in secret, and he prays each day it will rid him of Conrad Snr.
Cast:
Clovis.............................Pippa Haywood
De Ropp........................Rupert Vansittart
Conrad....................................Olly Bell
Jeff the Man..................Malcolm Hamilton
Inge...................................Amy Clifton
Director: Alison Crawford.