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Classic BBC Radio Shakespeare: Tragedies
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Classic BBC Radio Shakespeare: Comedies
- The Taming of the Shrew; A Midsummer Night's Dream; Twelfth Night
- By: William Shakespeare
- Narrated by: Paul Daneman, Fenella Fielding, Nigel Hawthorne, and others
- Length: 6 hrs and 41 mins
- Original Recording
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Three classic radio productions from the BBC archives starring Nigel Hawthorne, Miriam Margolyes, Geraldine McEwan and a host of celebrated acting talent. These three legendary plays, performed by some of the best-known theatrical actors of the 20th century, are the perfect way to commemorate England's greatest dramatist.
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Classic BBC Radio Shakespeare: Romances
- The Winter's Tale, Pericles, The Tempest
- By: William Shakespeare
- Narrated by: Hannah Gordon, Paul Scofield, Tim Pigott-Smith
- Length: 7 hrs and 31 mins
- Original Recording
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These three legendary plays, performed by some of the best-known theatrical actors of the 20th century, are the perfect way to commemorate England's greatest dramatist. The Winter's Tale: one man's consuming jealousy threatens to destroy both himself and those around him, but his actions arouse a passionate sense of honour, love, justice and self-sacrifice in members of his Court and family. First broadcast in 1982, starring Ronald Pickup as Leontes, with Hannah Gordon as Hermione and John Gielgud as Time.
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Macbeth
- By: William Shakespeare
- Narrated by: James Marsters, Joanne Whalley, Josh Cooke, and others
- Length: 1 hr and 59 mins
- Original Recording
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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.
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great rendition of the Shakespeare classic.
- By Anonymous User on 23-07-2018
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King Lear
- By: William Shakespeare
- Narrated by: Paul Scofield, Alec McCowen, Kenneth Branagh
- Length: 3 hrs and 6 mins
- Unabridged
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The tragedy of King Lear receives an outstanding performance in an all-star cast led by Britain’s senior classical actor, Paul Scofield. He is joined by Alec McCowen as Gloucester, Kenneth Branagh as The Fool, Harriet Walter as Gonerill, Sara Kestelman as Regan and Emilia Fox as Cordelia. This is the ninth recording of Shakespeare plays undertaken by Naxos AudioBooks in conjunction with Cambridge University Press, and is directed by John Tydeman. It was released to mark the 80th birthday of Paul Scofield in January 2002.
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Excellent rendition of a classic
- By Denis Tamplin on 19-05-2015
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The Tempest
- By: William Shakespeare
- Narrated by: Sir Ian McKellen, Emilia Fox, Scott Handy, and others
- Length: 2 hrs and 7 mins
- Unabridged
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Sir Ian McKellen, fresh from his performance as Gandalf in Lord of the Rings, is Prospero, and heads a strong cast in Shakespeare’s last great play. The wronged duke raises a tempest to shipwreck his old opponents on his island so that he can ensure justice is done. With Emilia Fox as Miranda, Scott Handy in the pivotal role of the sprite Ariel, and Ben Owukwe as Caliban.
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Homer Box Set: Iliad & Odyssey
- By: Homer, W. H. D. Rouse - translator
- Narrated by: Anthony Heald
- Length: 25 hrs and 2 mins
- Unabridged
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Overall
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Performance
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Story
Homer’s Iliad and Odyssey are unquestionably two of the greatest epic masterpieces in Western literature. Though more than 2,700 years old, their stories of brave heroics, capricious gods, and towering human emotions are vividly timeless. The Iliad can justly be called the world’s greatest war epic. The terrible and long-drawn-out siege of Troy remains one of the classic campaigns. The Odyssey chronicles the many trials and adventures Odysseus must pass through on his long journey home from the Trojan wars to his beloved wife.
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Epic
- By Corey on 30-08-2018
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Classic BBC Radio Shakespeare: Comedies
- The Taming of the Shrew; A Midsummer Night's Dream; Twelfth Night
- By: William Shakespeare
- Narrated by: Paul Daneman, Fenella Fielding, Nigel Hawthorne, and others
- Length: 6 hrs and 41 mins
- Original Recording
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Three classic radio productions from the BBC archives starring Nigel Hawthorne, Miriam Margolyes, Geraldine McEwan and a host of celebrated acting talent. These three legendary plays, performed by some of the best-known theatrical actors of the 20th century, are the perfect way to commemorate England's greatest dramatist.
-
Classic BBC Radio Shakespeare: Romances
- The Winter's Tale, Pericles, The Tempest
- By: William Shakespeare
- Narrated by: Hannah Gordon, Paul Scofield, Tim Pigott-Smith
- Length: 7 hrs and 31 mins
- Original Recording
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
These three legendary plays, performed by some of the best-known theatrical actors of the 20th century, are the perfect way to commemorate England's greatest dramatist. The Winter's Tale: one man's consuming jealousy threatens to destroy both himself and those around him, but his actions arouse a passionate sense of honour, love, justice and self-sacrifice in members of his Court and family. First broadcast in 1982, starring Ronald Pickup as Leontes, with Hannah Gordon as Hermione and John Gielgud as Time.
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Macbeth
- By: William Shakespeare
- Narrated by: James Marsters, Joanne Whalley, Josh Cooke, and others
- Length: 1 hr and 59 mins
- Original Recording
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Overall
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Performance
-
Story
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.
-
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great rendition of the Shakespeare classic.
- By Anonymous User on 23-07-2018
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King Lear
- By: William Shakespeare
- Narrated by: Paul Scofield, Alec McCowen, Kenneth Branagh
- Length: 3 hrs and 6 mins
- Unabridged
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Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
The tragedy of King Lear receives an outstanding performance in an all-star cast led by Britain’s senior classical actor, Paul Scofield. He is joined by Alec McCowen as Gloucester, Kenneth Branagh as The Fool, Harriet Walter as Gonerill, Sara Kestelman as Regan and Emilia Fox as Cordelia. This is the ninth recording of Shakespeare plays undertaken by Naxos AudioBooks in conjunction with Cambridge University Press, and is directed by John Tydeman. It was released to mark the 80th birthday of Paul Scofield in January 2002.
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Excellent rendition of a classic
- By Denis Tamplin on 19-05-2015
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The Tempest
- By: William Shakespeare
- Narrated by: Sir Ian McKellen, Emilia Fox, Scott Handy, and others
- Length: 2 hrs and 7 mins
- Unabridged
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Overall
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Performance
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Story
Sir Ian McKellen, fresh from his performance as Gandalf in Lord of the Rings, is Prospero, and heads a strong cast in Shakespeare’s last great play. The wronged duke raises a tempest to shipwreck his old opponents on his island so that he can ensure justice is done. With Emilia Fox as Miranda, Scott Handy in the pivotal role of the sprite Ariel, and Ben Owukwe as Caliban.
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Homer Box Set: Iliad & Odyssey
- By: Homer, W. H. D. Rouse - translator
- Narrated by: Anthony Heald
- Length: 25 hrs and 2 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Homer’s Iliad and Odyssey are unquestionably two of the greatest epic masterpieces in Western literature. Though more than 2,700 years old, their stories of brave heroics, capricious gods, and towering human emotions are vividly timeless. The Iliad can justly be called the world’s greatest war epic. The terrible and long-drawn-out siege of Troy remains one of the classic campaigns. The Odyssey chronicles the many trials and adventures Odysseus must pass through on his long journey home from the Trojan wars to his beloved wife.
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Epic
- By Corey on 30-08-2018
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The Life and Writings of C. S. Lewis
- By: Louis Markos, The Great Courses
- Narrated by: Louis Markos
- Length: 6 hrs and 5 mins
- Original Recording
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What can we still learn from C.S. Lewis? Find out in these 12 insightful lectures that cover the author's spiritual autobiography, novels, and his scholarly writings that reflect on pain and grief, love and friendship, prophecy and miracles, and education and mythology.
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Mythos
- By: Stephen Fry
- Narrated by: Stephen Fry
- Length: 15 hrs and 25 mins
- Unabridged
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The Greek myths are amongst the greatest stories ever told, passed down through millennia and inspiring writers and artists as varied as Shakespeare, Michelangelo, James Joyce and Walt Disney. They are embedded deeply in the traditions, tales and cultural DNA of the West. You'll fall in love with Zeus, marvel at the birth of Athena, wince at Cronus and Gaia's revenge on Ouranos, weep with King Midas and hunt with the beautiful and ferocious Artemis.
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Superb!
- By Anonymous User on 14-11-2017
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Ulysses
- By: James Joyce
- Narrated by: Jim Norton
- Length: 27 hrs and 16 mins
- Unabridged
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Ulysses is regarded by many as the single most important novel of the 20th century. It tells the story of one day in Dublin, June 16th 1904, largely through the eyes of Stephen Dedalus (Joyce's alter ego from Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man) and Leopold Bloom, an advertising salesman. Both begin a normal day, and both set off on a journey around the streets of Dublin, which eventually brings them into contact with one another.
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Groan
- By Travis on 03-11-2017
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The Merchant of Venice
- Arkangel Shakespeare
- By: William Shakespeare
- Narrated by: Trevor Peacock, Bill Nighy, Haydn Gwynne, and others
- Length: 2 hrs and 16 mins
- Original Recording
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In Shakespeare's most controversial play, the opposing values of justice and mercy must be resolved. Antonio promises money to help his friend Bassanio woo Portia. He borrows the sum needed from the cruel Shylock, but there will be a dreadful penalty if the loan is not repaid. The golden world of Portia's Belmont calls forth some of Shakespeare's most lyrical love poetry. But the dark shadow of Shylock is never far from the heart of this brilliant comedy as it moves toward its courtroom climax.
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BBC Radio Shakespeare
- Othello (Dramatized)
- By: William Shakespeare
- Narrated by: Ray Fearon, Anastasia Hille, Full Cast
- Length: 3 hrs and 5 mins
- Original Recording
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BBC Radio has a unique heritage when it comes to Shakespeare. Since 1923, when the newly formed company broadcast its first full-length play, generations of actors and producers have honed and perfected the craft of making Shakespeare to be heard.
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Inferno: From The Divine Comedy
- By: Dante Alighieri, Benedict Flynn (translator)
- Narrated by: Heathcote Williams
- Length: 4 hrs and 10 mins
- Unabridged
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"Abandon all hope you who enter here." ( "Lasciate ogne speranza voi ch’intrate.") Dante’s Hell is one of the most remarkable visions in Western literature. An allegory for his and future ages, it is, at the same time, an account of terrifying realism. Passing under a lintel emblazoned with these frightening words, the poet is led down into the depths by Virgil and shown those doomed to suffer eternal torment for vices exhibited and sins committed on earth.
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Sorry reviewers I just put my review in Purgatory
- By Jan on 17-06-2017
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Metamorphosis
- A BBC Radio 4 Reading
- By: Franz Kafka
- Narrated by: Benedict Cumberbatch
- Length: 1 hr and 38 mins
- Abridged
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Benedict Cumberbatch reads the enduring classic of Franz Kafka's Metamorphosis. Gregor Samsa wakes to discover that he has turned into a large, monstrous insect-like creature. He attempts to adjust to his new condition as he deals with being burdensome to his parents and sister, who are repelled by the horrible creature he has become. First published in 1915, Kafka's darkly comic novella explores concepts such as the absurdity of life, alienation and the disconnect between mind and body.
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The Divine Comedy
- Inferno; Purgatorio; Paradiso
- By: Dante Alighieri, Stephen Wyatt
- Narrated by: Blake Ritson, John Hurt, David Warner, and others
- Length: 2 hrs and 50 mins
- Original Recording
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Blake Ritson, David Warner, Hattie Morahan and John Hurt star in this BBC Radio 4 dramatisation of Dante's epic poem. Inferno: Thirty-five year old Dante finds himself in the middle of a dark wood, in extreme personal and spiritual crisis. Hope of rescue appears in the form of the venerable poet Virgil, now a shade himself, who offers to lead Dante on an odyssey through the afterlife, beginning in the terrifying depths of Hell.
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Wow, exceeded all expectations!
- By Glenda Walters on 15-07-2018
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Secrets of Screen Acting
- By: Patrick Tucker
- Narrated by: David H. Lawrence XVII
- Length: 10 hrs and 34 mins
- Unabridged
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Instead of starting with what is real and trying to wrestle that onto the screen, Patrick Tucker explains how to work with the realities of a shoot and work from there toward the real. His step by step guide to the elements of effective screen acting is an extension and explanation of a lifetime of work in the field, containing over 50 acting exercises and the tried-and-tested screen acting checklist.
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Amazingly good.
- By Anonymous User on 18-02-2019
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The Things They Carried
- By: Tim O'Brien
- Narrated by: Bryan Cranston
- Length: 7 hrs and 47 mins
- Unabridged
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Hailed by The New York Times as "a marvel of storytelling", The Things They Carried’s portrayal of the boots-on-the-ground experience of soldiers in the Vietnam War is a landmark in war writing. Now, three-time Emmy Award winner-Bryan Cranston, star of the hit TV series Breaking Bad, delivers an electrifying performance that walks the book’s hallucinatory line between reality and fiction and highlights the emotional power of the spoken word.
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deeply disturbing imagary of a horror war
- By Amazon Customer on 17-12-2018
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King Richard III
- By: William Shakespeare
- Narrated by: Kenneth Branagh, Geraldine McEwan, Nicholas Farrell, and others
- Length: 3 hrs and 19 mins
- Unabridged
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Written in 1593, King Richard III is one of Shakespeare's earliest plays. This play differs from its predecessors, being amore structured piece, examining the development and motivations of a single character, Richard Duke of Gloucester, who will stop at nothing to gain control of the throne occupied by his brother Edward IV.
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The Odyssey
- By: Homer, Robert Fagles - translator
- Narrated by: Ian McKellen
- Length: 13 hrs and 18 mins
- Unabridged
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The great adventure story tells of Odysseus, a veteran of the Trojan War, who - through a landscape peopled with monsters, sea nymphs, evil enchantresses, and vengeful gods - makes his tortuous way home to his faithful wife, Penelope. Shipwrecked numerous times, faced with apparently insurmountable obstacles, offered the temptations of ease, comfort, and even immortality, Odysseus remains steadfast and determined. Themes of courage and perseverance, fidelity and fortitude.
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A classic but trying
- By Ryan Morrow on 04-04-2018
Publisher's Summary
Three powerful radio productions from the BBC archives starring Ian McKellen, Ronald Pickup and Paul Scofield and a host of celebrated acting talent. These three legendary plays, performed by some of the best-known theatrical actors of the 20th century, are the perfect way to commemorate England's greatest dramatist.
Romeo and Juliet: the Montagues and the Capulets are sworn enemies, so when Romeo Montague falls in love with Juliet Capulet, tragedy ensues. This fateful tale of two young star-crossed lovers is one of Shakespeare's most popular dramas. First broadcast in 1970, starring Ian McKellen as Romeo.
Hamlet: one of the most powerful, influential and thrilling tragedies in the English language, and the story of Prince Hamlet and his quest for vengeance never fails to enthral. First broadcast in 1971, starring Ronald Pickup as the Prince of Denmark.
Macbeth: the notorious 'Scottish Play' is a gripping tale of vaulting ambition, witchcraft, madness and murder that has kept generations of audiences spellbound. First broadcast in 1966, starring Paul Scofield as Macbeth and Peggy Ashcroft as Lady Macbeth.
Recorded at BBC Broadcasting House and featuring the BBC Drama Repertory company, with specially composed music including a score from the BBC Radiophonic Workshop, this is classic radio drama at its finest. Duration: 7 hours 30 mins approx.
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- Jennifer Sheridan
- 08-07-2017
Abridged
What did you like best about Classic BBC Radio Shakespeare: Tragedies? What did you like least?
I have not listened to all three plays, but Macbeth is definitely abridged. Lines are skipped over here and there and one whole scene was missing. Also, the delivery is laboriously slow in spots.
Would you recommend Classic BBC Radio Shakespeare: Tragedies to your friends? Why or why not?
I have listened to several other recordings of Shakespeare's plays and this is one of the worst.
Did the narrators do a good job differentiating all the characters? How?
The characters were well voiced although I disagreed with some interpretations. That's Shakespeare for you.
Was Classic BBC Radio Shakespeare: Tragedies worth the listening time?
Unfortunately, I'd have to say this was not worth my time.
8 of 9 people found this review helpful
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- Troy
- 11-09-2018
To much sound variation
On stage, a dynamic range of volume is exciting. In my headphones, after cranking the volume to hear the whisper of some madman, the blasting trumpets of battle were too much. Also, while the performance was great, this isn't the sort of thing you can pick up to gain an exposure to Shakespeare. In a script or on stage you have done clue as to who is speaking. I enjoyed the one liners but I have no more understanding of the titles than when I started
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- Alanna R.
- 01-05-2018
Some lines omitted and/or changed
It was a different version than what I am use to, but it was ok.
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- Kristen Newby
- 25-05-2016
Sparknotes is genius.
As a first time Shakespeare "reader", I loved the storyline, but struggled because I was never clear on which voice beyond to which character. I ended up finding the best solution was to read the sparknotes plot overview then listen and I could follow along and appreciate the dialogue more.
6 of 15 people found this review helpful
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- Lewis Kane
- 10-01-2018
Think before buying this
I thoughtlessly bought this to hear some of the most popular Shakespeare stories, 2 of which I've never read or seen performed before.
This is a reading of the script, without the visuals of performers, the names you'd see if you were reading this or any familiarity with the stories, it is very difficult to follow and know which character says which line.
Only buy this if you know the stories well enough to know the characters in each scene, or at least have a very good ear for distinguishing Shakespearean actors who all sound similar. With that in mind, this could still be for you.
8 of 12 people found this review helpful
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- Barry Deri
- 12-11-2017
Terrible sound quality don't waste your time
Terrible sound quality don't waste your time. I was extremely disappointed, thus was another missed opportunity.
3 of 5 people found this review helpful
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- Jordan raghnal
- 29-04-2017
Student piont of veiw
As a student it hells me grasp the way it can be presented to an audience such as my self
4 of 10 people found this review helpful
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- Dave
- 17-03-2018
A difficult listen, it feels like school again
OK, so why did I download these tragedies if I don't like Shakespeare?
A good question, but I had been thinking that I'd been missing out on some great works of literature as everyone I talk to tells me how wonderful they are. To be honest, now that I've listened to just one, I'm not convinced.
I started with Romeo and Juliet.
We all know the story, rival families, boy & girl meet, families don't like it, two dead teenagers. (I think I'm ok for spoilers after 400 years)
Lets start with the story. It was OK. Yip, just ok. Nothing particularly great or gripping in it, no great characters, nobody particularly memorable at all in fact.
However, what I did find was that there were loads of common day phrases that have made their way into the English language that came from the play. "parting is such sweet sorrow", "What's in a name? that which we call a rose by any other name would smell as sweet"
I'm not going to go on, yo get the drift.
The characters. Well, a couple of teenagers who fancy each other, their friends and families. Quite dull characters, even the principles.
The delivery. Hmmm, perhaps this is why I didn't really get it. On the stage there are people playing the different characters and it's quite clear who's who. In a book, it typically says "Romeo said..." But in a radio play, it's really difficult to figure out who's who. There's lots of background noise and effects which only detract.
OK, I'm not sold. But I will soldier on through the other three plays in this and update the review as I go.
For now though, it feels like I'm at school and being forced to read a dull book.
1 of 6 people found this review helpful