Macbeth

by William Shakespeare Narrated by James Marsters, Joanne Whalley, Full Cast

Overview

Infamously known as the cursed Scottish play, Macbeth is perhaps Shakespeare's darkest tragedy. When General Macbeth is foretold by three witches that he will one day be King of Scotland, Lady Macbeth convinces him to get rid of anyone who could stand in his way - including committing regicide. As Macbeth ascends to the throne through bloody murder, he becomes a tyrant consumed by fear and paranoia.

Recorded at The Invisible Studios in May 2011.

Adapted and directed for radio by Martin Jarvis Producing Director: Susan Albert Loewenberg An L.A. Theatre Works Full-Cast Performance Featuring: Josh Cooke as Banquo and others JD Cullum as Macduff and Second Murderer Dan Donohue as Ross Jeannie Elias as Second Witch and others Chuma Gault as Lennox and Servant James Marsters as Macbeth Jon Matthews as Malcolm Alan Shearman as Angus and others André Sogliuzzo as Donalbain, Third Witch and others Kate Steele as Lady Macduff, First Witch and Apparition Kris Tabori as Duncan and others Joanne Whalley as Lady Macbeth Associate Producers: Anna Lyse Erikson, Myke Weiskopf Recording Engineer/Sound Designer/Editor: Mark Holden for The Invisible Studios, West Hollywood Sound Effects Artist: Tony Palermo

Editorial Reviews

Publishers Weekly - Audio

Shakespeare's tragedy about the ill-fated thane of Cawdor is brought to life via this one-man interpretation from Alan Cumming. Motivated by his scheming wife, Macbeth lusts for and then takes power, which leads to regicide and his own undoing. Building upon his performance in the audio edition of A.J. Hartley and David Hewson's Macbeth: A Novel, Cumming executes a captivating solo performance of this classic play. With an authentic Scottish accent, Cumming ably embodies Lord Macbeth. He shifts from character to character seamlessly, capturing the tone, attitude, and emphasis of each, while providing an increasing intensity that conveys the reprehensible, irreparable nature of the title character's actions. In addition to embracing the various characters, Cumming's powerful performance even elevates the play's stage directions, which—rather than feeling like crude interruptions to the dialogue—slip in smoothly like the knife used to slay King Duncan. (July)

From the Publisher

"This updated edition of Macbeth reveals thorough research, it is conscientiously annotated, and it appears a superb tool for researchers and students involved in Shakespeare scholarship."
The Year's Work in English Studies

School Library Journal

Gr 10 Up—Shakespeare's tragedy is brought to life in this studio-recorded full-cast performance starring James Marsters and Joanne Whalley. Marsters's Macbeth is solid, and Whalley turns in a remarkable performance of Lady Macbeth's calculated strength and eventual unraveling. The pacing and delivery of Shakespeare's lines are effective and accurate, and the use of sound to depict setting and action provide the essential cues listeners need. The sound effects and the theatrics of the Weird Sisters are wonderful. Listeners should be familiar with the story prior to listening due to the large number of characters and the lack of stage direction in audio format. A good choice to offer students as a reading companion.—Rebecca Flannery, Lyman Memorial High School, Lebanon, CT

DECEMBER 2011 - AudioFile

In one of Shakespeare’s shortest plays, a Scots noble, inspired by witches, murders to become king and then loses himself in brutality. James Marsters and Joanne Whalley, as Macbeth and his Lady, are both quite good, if rarely exciting or remarkable. Whalley hits that mark more often. There are, by turns, some flatness and overacting in the lesser roles. There’s too much forced laughter among the supernumeraries and too much grunting during fights we cannot see. Still, the overall production is effective. Without standout performances, the play takes the lead. The music and sound effects, though occasionally overdone, help build a sense of dread and things gone very wrong. Text, performances, and sound combine to deliver an affecting tale of tragic horror. W.M. © AudioFile 2011, Portland, Maine

Product Details

BN ID:	2940170306947
Publisher:	L.A. Theatre Works
Publication date:	08/15/2011
Edition description:	Unabridged

Read an Excerpt

Dramatis Personae
(Continues…)

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Excerpted from "Macbeth"
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Excerpted by permission of Penguin Publishing Group.
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