BARRYMORE

During the first half of the twentieth century, John Barrymore was revered for his unparalleled performances in Shakespeare's RICHARD III and HAMLET, among many other notable roles on stage and screen. Playwright William Luce has adapted his acclaimed Broadway play for this audio presentation, and while the writing is top-notch, the performance by Jerry Robbins as John Barrymore is less so. There’s too much theatricality in his vocal characterizations, as well as huge dynamic shifts. As an audio presentation, it’s overblown, making it difficult to enjoy. Perhaps Luce's BARRYMORE needs to be seen to be fully appreciated, much like John Barrymore himself. M.R.E. © AudioFile 2009, Portland, Maine [Published: JUNE 2009]