Hamlet
A Thriller
By William Shakespeare
Part of the Arkangel Complete Shakespeare The Audio Partners Publishing Corp.
A Fully Dramatized, Unabridged Recording, on 3 CDs
ISBN: 1-932219-08-0
Reviewed by Sheldon Ztvordokov - February 26, 2007
Hamlet is one of William Shakespeare's later tragedies, and it is also one of his most famous tragic plays. The story focuses on Hamlet the son of the recently deceased King of Denmark. The King was killed by his own brother, Claudius, who shortly after the King's death, marries Gertrude, the King's widow. Hamlet is informed of these villainous actions by his father's ghost. What ensues is a story of epic proportions as Hamlet sets out to seek revenge for his father murder - and in the process goes slightly insane, a fact that does not go unnoticed by those around him. Murder, espionage, suicide, poisonings, deceit, and sword fights are the fruits of Hamlet's vengeance.
Hamlet is an action-packed story that is infused with numerous puns and droll remarks, and you may need to read or listen to the play several times over to catch all the innuendo and nuances inherent in the dialog. Perhaps the most memorable line in this play is Hamlet's repeated admonition to Ophelia to "Get thee to a nunnery." This dramatization of Hamlet is outstanding, and if you close your eyes while listening to the program, you can easily imagine that you are listening to a live performance.
This unabridged dramatic production of Hamlet is part of The Complete Arkangel Shakespeare collection and it is a companion recording to the print edition of The Complete Pelican Shakespeare. This play was dramatized by a full cast of respected Shakespearean actors that included:
Simon Russell Beale as Hamlet
Imogen Stubbs as Ophelia
Jane Lapotaire as Gertrude
Bob Peck as Claudius
Norman Rodway as Polonius
This recording of Hamlet is an unabridged dramatization, issued on three CDs. The CDs are packaged with liner notes that provide a scene by scene synopsis of the play, a cast list, and tracking list that will enable you to easily find each act and scene in the play. This is a full stage dramatization of the play, and it is rounded out by a musical score composed by Dominique Le Gendre and accompanying sound effects.
Related Reviews:
King Lear, by William Shakespeare.
King Lear has said that he will divide his kingdom among those of his daughters who can best, obsequiously, express their love for him. What ensues is a tragic tale of avarice that finds Lear's most beloved daughter disowned and her conniving sisters as sole heirs to his kingdom.
Richard III, by William Shakespeare.
Richard III is willing to do anything, including killing off members of his own family, in order to wrest the crown off of the head of the King of England, his very own brother Edward IV, in this compelling story based, in part, on historical facts.
