Frank Wedekind has 7 audiobooks on Listento.it, narrated by 26 narrators. The most-rated is Pandora's Box.
Spring Awakening
Summary
Spring Awakening By Frank Wedekind Translated by Francis J. Ziegler Presented by The Online Stage Spring Awakening (German: Frühlings Erwachen) was the first major play by Frank Wedekind. It was written in the early 1890s but, due to opposition from censorship authorities, was not presented on stage until 1906. The play explores two contentious themes: the development of adolescent sexuality and the repressive nature of the German education system. As with most of Wedekind's plays, the action is presented in a series of snapshots. In Wedekind's view, life is a series of episodes linked by the action of deeply seated human impulses, rather than the more conventional view of it as a journey to a heightened level of personal understanding. Cast Wendla Bergman - Amanda Friday Frau Bergman - Elizabeth Klett Melchior Gabor - Andy Harrington Moritz Stiefel - Ted Wenskus Frau Gabor - Maureen Boutilier The Masked Man - Denis Daly Stage directions read by Marty Krz. Also featuring the voices of Jeff Moon, P.J. Morgan, Arielle Lipshaw, Chris Marcellus, Grace Keller-Scotch, Leanne Yau, Tomas Peter, Ron Altman, Larry Wilson, Andrew Coleman, Alan Weyman, John Burlinson, and Joseph Tabler. Audio edited by Denis Daly.
Public Domain (P)2019 The Online Stage
Theatre Classics
Summary
London, 1944. Seemingly far from the war in Europe, two schoolboys find they have much more pressing concerns than the fighting on the front-line. Melchior rekindles a passionate love affair with an old flame, but beneath his confident, roguish exterior lies a young boy who finds himself out of his depth. What starts as a romantic chapter in their young lives soon takes a violent turn with disastrous consequences that threaten to tear them apart. For Mortiz however, girls are the last thing he wants to think about. But he cant ignore his natural desires for much longer, especially with the new crowd Melchior introduces him to. And with the expectations of a demanding father on top of the ever-increasing piles of homework, Moritz finds himself struggling to cope with the amounting pressure, and soon becomes to much to bare... Springs Awakening is a story of youth and innocence, and the awakening we all experience one day. It explores the power of friendship and lust, and the role of society in dealing with these childhood traumas. THE CAST: Moritz: Anthony Lewis Wendla: Helen Oakleigh Martha: Victoria Broom Headmaster: Ian Fairbairn Bergman /Rousseau: Tina Rath Rentier / Sean: Neil Summeville Melchoir: Ben Righton Thea: Laura James Ernest: Jeremy Tiang Caines / Sergeant: Keith Ducklin Will: Mike Sani Jenkins / Priest: Andrew McDonald
©2009 Fantom Films (P)2009 Fantom Films
Death and the Devil
Summary
Death and the Devil: A Dance of Death in Three Scenes by Frank Wedekind. Translated by Samuel A. Eliot and Denis Daly. Cast: The Marquis Casti-Piani - John Burlinson; Fräulein Elfriede von Malchus - Amanda Friday; Herr König - Mark Crowle-Groves; Lisiska - Leanne Yau. Stage directions read by Denis Daly. Audio edited by Denis Daly. This play forms part of a tetralogy which focuses on one of Wedekind's obsessive themes: the destructive interplay between primal sexual urges and social convention. Each play revolves around a powerful young female character, who has the power to control and captivate men, but who in turn is destroyed by the exercise of that power. In this play, the dominant female is Fräulein Elfriede von Malchus, an idealistic crusader who visits a brothel operated by the cynical impresario Casti-Piani in order to rescue a young woman who has fallen into his clutches. In a perverse way, Wedekind's plays are morality tales, in which he gives a new twist to the biblical admonition; "Forgive them, for they know not what they do." In most cases, when characters finally do become aware of who they are and what they have done, the knowledge leads to their destruction. In Death and the Devil, Casti-Piani kills himself when he learns that prostitution can actually provide its victims with a path to moral glorification.
Public Domain (P)2018 The Online Stage
The Great Gerardo by Frank Wedekind
Summary
The Great Gerardo - A Comedy By Frank Wedekind Presented by the Online Stage On the day of his departure to sing Tristan in Brussels, the celebrated tenor Gerardo receives three unwelcome visitors. Despite their persistent attentions, he manages to honor his singing contract, but at an unexpected personal cost. This play was originally published as The Court Singer (Der Kammersänger). The English version used for this recording was prepared by Alan Weyman and drew upon the following translations: 1) Albert Wilhelm Boesche - The Court Singer; 2) André Tridon - The Tenor Cast: Gerardo - Alan Weyman; Helen Marova - Erin Louttit; Professor Duehring - Noel Badrian; Isabel Coehurne - Sarah Hulslander; Muller - Noel Badrian; Valet - David Prickett; Bell Boy - Leanne Yau.
Public Domain (P)2016 The Online Stage
Castle Wetterstein
Summary
Castle Wetterstein by Frank Wedekind Translated by Ian Johnston This play forms part of a tetralogy which focuses on one of Wedekind's obsessive themes: the destructive interplay between primal sexual urges and social convention. Each play revolves around a powerful young female character, who has the power to control and captivate men, but who in turn is destroyed by the exercise of that power. In Castle Wetterstein, that role is represented by Effie, the young daughter of a bourgeois widow, who is being courted by the man who killed her late husband in a duel. Later in the play Effie becomes, like Wedekind’s most celebrated heroine, Lulu, a sacrificial victim on the altar of profane love. Cast: Rüdiger, Baron Wetterstein - Russell Gold Leonore von Gystrow - P J Morgan Effie and the Housemaid - Amanda Friday Meinrad Luckner and Chagnaral Tschamper of Atakama - Noel Badrian Van Zeeter (hotel manager) and Professor Dr. Scharlach - John Burlinson Duvoisin (police inspector) and Karl Salzmann - Ron Altman Matthais Taubert - David Stifel Waiter and Schigabet - Alan Weyman Heiri Wipf and Waldemar Uhlhorst - Andy Harrington Narrator - Denis Daly Audio edited by Denis Daly
©2017 Ian Johnston (P)2019 The Online Stage
Earth Spirit
Summary
Earth Spirit: A Tragedy in Four Acts by Frank Wedekind Translated by Samuel A. Eliot Presented by the Online Stage Frank Wedekind (1864-1918) was the most controversial dramatist of his age. Most of his work focuses on the ubiquity and inevitably corrupting influence of sexual attraction. His most famous plays are the two that depict the rise, fall, and eventual gruesome death of the vampish Lulu, who, in Wedekind’s presentation, became a ghastly parody of Goethe’s “Eternal Feminine”. The first of the plays is Earth Spirit, in which Lulu marries and survives three husbands, only to face prosecution for the shooting of the third. Lulu’s later adventures are described in the following play, Pandora’s Box. The two plays were later bundled with Death and the Devil and Castle Wetterstein to form a tetralogy that was published as Tragedies of Sex. Cast Ringmaster/Rodrigo - Ron Altman Lulu - Charlotte Duckett Countess Geschwitz - Leanne Yau Schigolch - Marty Krz Alva Schön - Brett Downey Dr. Schön - John Burlinson Schwartz - Garrison Moore Prince Escerny and Ferdinand - Joseph Tabler Dr. Goll and Escherich - Alan Weyman Alfred Hugenberg and Henriette - Chyanne Donnell Stage directions read by Denis Daly Audio edited by Denis Daly
Public Domain (P)2018 The Online Stage
Pandora's Box
Summary
"Pandora’s Box: A Tragedy in Three Acts" by Frank Wedekind. Play translated by Samuel A. Eliot Jnr. Prologue translated by Leanne Yau and Alan Weyman and rendered into verse by Charlotte Duckett. Presented by The Online Stage. This play is the sequel to "Earth Spirit", in which the adventurous and manipulative Lulu marries and rids herself of three husbands, only to be arrested for the murder of the third. In "Pandora’s Box", Lulu escapes from prison only to be forced in the life of a courtesan. Reduced to desperate poverty, she meets her end at the hands of murderous customer in London. In Wedekind’s sordid morality tale, all Lulu’s main associates suffer premature and unnatural deaths, except for the degenerate Schigolch, who is one of the most unpleasant characters in the European drama. In Wedekind's dark world, virtue is a practical improbability and vice, although often punished, continues to thrive. In the prologue, which has been specially translated for this production, Wedekind pillories the forces of censorship and critical approval, against which he contended almost continuously throughout his writing career. Full cast of narrators includes: The Enterprising Publisher - John Burlinson The Ordinary Reader - K.G.Cross The Bashful Author - Joseph Tabler The Attorney General - Alan Weyman Play Rodrigo Quast - Ron Altman Lulu - Charlotte Duckett Countess Geschwitz - Leanne Yau Schigolch Marty Kryz Alva Schön - Brett Downey Count Casti Piani - John Burlinson Detective and Jack - Garrison Moore Heilmann and Dr. Hilti – Joseph Tabler Puntschu and Kungu Poti- Alan Weyman Alfred Hugenberg and Kadidia - Chyanne Donnell Bianetta and Magelone - K.G.Cross Ludmilla Steinherz and Bob - P.J. Morgan Stage directions read by Denis Daly. Audio edited by Denis Daly. Copyright for the verse version of the Prologue is held by Charlotte Duckett.
Public Domain (P)2018 The Online Stage