Episode 2

A two-part radio dramatisation of James Leo Herlihy's landmark 1965 novel Midnight Cowboy - the source material for one of the most celebrated films in American cinema, yet a work whose extraordinary emotional power and literary richness have never been fully realised until now for radio. With very strong language,

At its heart, Midnight Cowboy is a story of dreams, desperation and an unlikely friendship forged in the shadows of a city that promises everything but delivers nothing to those living on the margins.

When Joe Buck, a handsome and hopelessly naïve young Texan, arrives in New York City convinced that charm and ambition will unlock a glamorous new life as a male hustler, he finds himself plunged into a world of predators, drifters and dreamers. As the city strips away his illusions, Joe forms an unexpected bond with Ricco “Ratso “ Rizzo, a sharp-tongued, physically broken con artist whose bravado barely conceals his vulnerability. Together they embark on a desperate struggle not simply to get by, but to find connection and dignity in a world that has forgotten them.

And it’s the portrayal of this complex pairing - by turns funny, combative, heart-breaking and deeply moving which critics have observed ranks with the very best in American literature.

Radical and controversial when first published, Midnight Cowboy was among the first mainstream novels to explore sexuality, masculinity and queer identity with honesty and compassion. More than sixty years later, its themes of loneliness, alienation, friendship and the search for belonging feel strikingly contemporary. At a time when many feel disconnected from the societies around them, this story feels as relevant today as it did when it was first published. But despite the dark themes this adaptation embraces the novel's surprising humour alongside the sadness.

It also carries a personal connection. The Producer/Director Paul Schlesinger’s uncle, John Schlesinger, directed the Academy Award-winning film adaptation.

It’s a timeless story of two outsiders searching for connection in a world that seems determined to leave them behind.

In the second and final part, Joe glimpses how good life could be in the city. “Rich women, with nice sheets, feather pillows. It was living.”.He has a choice to make - to earn good money as a hustler in New York or accompany the fast-deteriorating Ricco on a life-saving journey to the fantasy paradise of Florida.

Midnight Cowboy by James Leo Herlihy
Dramatised by Colin Bytheway

Joe Buck ..... Brandon Bassir
Rico Rizzo ..... Chase Brown
Towny ..... Toby Jones
Sally Buck/Mother Ceres ..... Madeleine Potter
Jacqueline ..... Antonia Bernath
Gretel/Weather Girl ..... Samantha Dakin
Hansel ..... .Jake Phillips
Lionel/Perry ..... Caleb Mercer
Bus Driver ..... Bentley Kalu
Young Joe ..... Kobe Warmington
Juanita ..... Tonya Cornelisse
Tombaby ..... Daniel Trainor
Dolores ..... Gabriella Fanuele

Music composed by Ed Seed
Sound Design by David Thomas
Production Coordinators: Dawn Williams and Nina Semple

Producer/Director: Paul Schlesinger

A Pier production for BBC Radio 4