THE OEDIPUS PLAYS An Audible Original Drama

Classical Greek drama was performed through masks, so an audio version, depending almost entirely on the actors' voices, is not a big stretch. This outstanding full cast, and Roger Marsh's original music, serves Ian Johnston's vigorous verse translation of Sophocles very well. None of the actors can be singled out; they’re all marvelous at combining the original declamatory tradition with modern ideas about portraying character and emotion. The result is a moving dramatic experience that is enhanced by, but does not require, a background in the classics. This is a first-rate example not only of why the classics endure but also of what can be done with the medium of audio. D.M.H. Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award © AudioFile 2016, Portland, Maine [Published: JULY 2016]