Murder and madness, witches and war: Librivox presents a recording of Macbeth, perhaps Shakespeare’s best known tragedy. Macbeth, a general in King Duncan’s army, is given a prophecy by a trio of witches: he himself will become king. Fired by ambition and goaded by his ruthless wife, he murders Duncan and assumes the throne. More killings follow as Macbeth attempts to retain his crown, until he discovers that prophecies are not always what they seem. (Summary by Laurie Anne Walden) Cast: Duncan – Joshua B. Christensen Malcolm – mb Donalbain – Ellis Christoff Macbeth – Mark F. Smith Banquo – Simon Larois Macduff – John Lieder Lennox – Mirza Ross – Rosalind Wills Menteith, Son of Macduff, and First Apparition – David Lawrence Angus, Second Apparition, and Third Murderer – Annoying Twit Caithness, Lord, Sergeant, and Soldiers – David Nicol Fleance – Aaron Elliott Siward – Brian Edwards Young Siward, Gentlewoman – Laurie Anne Walden Seyton, Old Man – Paul Williams Lady Macbeth – Elizabeth Klett Lady Macduff – LC Hecate – Ruth Golding First Witch – Jennifer Stearns Second Witch – Kristin Hughes Third Witch – Charlene V. Smith Doctor – Eric M. Johnson Servant and Attendant – Anna Simon Porter – David Leeson Third Apparition – Fionn Jameson First Murderer – hefyd Second Murderer – Anna Roberts Messenger – Ezwa Stage Directions – J. M. Smallheer Audio edited by J. M. Smallheer     [chương_files]  

Romeo and Juliet is Shakespeare’s famous tragedy of two “star-crossed lovers” from rival houses. Romeo and Juliet meet at a party and fall instantly in love, realizing too late that their families, the Montagues and the Capulets, are mortal enemies. Braving parental opposition, the teenage lovers marry in secret, with the aid of the well-intentioned Friar Lawrence. Yet, as Shakespeare has often observed, the course of true love does not run smoothly, and Romeo and Juliet must risk death to be together. (summary by Elizabeth Klett) Cast: Escalus: David Muncaster Paris: mb Montague: Chris Hughes Capulet: Andy Minter Old Man and Friar Lawrence: Alan Davis Drake Romeo: Simon Taylor Mercutio: Andrew Lebrun Benvolio: David Nicol Tybalt: Joshua B. Christensen Friar John: Sean McKinley Balthasar: Scott D. Farquar Sampson: Esther Gregory: David O’Connell Peter and Second Watchman: Gesine Abraham and First Watchman: Caliban Apothecary: Lucy Perry First Musician and Second Citizen: Laurie Anne Walden Second Musician: om123 Third Musician: Aaron Walden Chorus: ancilla Page: C. J. Nowak Lady Montague: Christie Nowak Lady Capulet: Cori Samuel Juliet: Elizabeth Klett Nurse: Kristin Hughes First Servant: Abigail Bartels Second Servant: Lizzie Driver Third Watchman: bryfee First Citizen: Rhys Lawson Narrator: David Lawrence Audio Edited by: Elizabeth Klett     [chương_files]  

The Life and Death of King John, a history play by William Shakespeare, dramatises the reign of John, King of England (ruled 1199–1216), son of Henry II of England and Eleanor of Aquitaine and father of Henry III of England. It is believed to have been written in the mid-1590s but was not published until it appeared in the First Folio in 1623. John (24 December 1166 – 19 October 1216), also known as John Lackland or Softsword, was King of England from 6 April 1199 until his death. His reign saw the loss of the duchy of Normandy to the French king Philip II in 1204, resulting in the collapse of most of the Angevin Empire and the subsequent growth in the power of the Capetian dynasty over the rest of the 13th century. The baronial revolt at the end of John’s reign saw the signing of the Magna Carta, a document often considered to be an early step in the evolution of the constitution of the United Kingdom. Contemporary chroniclers were mostly critical of John’s performance as king, and his reign has since been subject to significant debate and periodic revision by historians from the 16th century onwards. Historian Jim Bradbury has summarised the contemporary historical opinion of John’s positive qualities, observing that John is today usually considered a “hard-working administrator, an able man, an able general”. Nonetheless, modern historians agree that he also had many faults as king, including what historian Ralph Turner describes as “distasteful, even […]