HERCULES

It's one thing to read the story of Hercules and his 12 labors. It's another thing entirely to listen to this stellar full-cast production of McCaughrean's re-envisioning of the classic Greek tale of loss and redemption. The narrators give raw emotion to every line—Hera shrieks for the death of Zeus's "bastard" son, Hercules cries aloud for the gods to take pity on his suffering—as the performance builds to a dramatic and pitch-perfect conclusion. Those familiar with the story will marvel at the skill of the narrators and the author’s ability to make an ancient tale seem so fresh. And those experiencing Hercules for the first time will be bowled over by the sheer energy and power of the production. M.L.K. © AudioFile 2010, Portland, Maine [Published: MARCH 2010]