Macbeth (Dramatised)

By: William Shakespeare

Narrated by: Alec Guinness, Pamela Brown

Full cast stage drama of Shakespeare's Macbeth recorded in the 1950s and starring Alec Guinness and Pamela Brown.©2008 Saland Publishing (P)2008 Saland Publishing

Well worth a listen

If you could sum up Macbeth (Dramatised) in three words, what would they be?

Powerful and striking.

What does Alec Guinness and Pamela Brown bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

Their performances were excellent, as were those of the rest of the cast. They really bring out the way Macbeth and Lady Macbeth are traveling in opposite directions -- Guinness going from meek to fiery, Brown starting strong and then showing her character's deterioration.

Any additional comments?

The sound quality was good overall, but there was some sort of noise going on in the background -- sort of a knocking sound. It wasn't noticeable all the time but could be a little distracting at quieter moments. That's the reason for my giving this four stars instead of five. But that was my only problem with an otherwise great recording.

What did you expect from Shakespeare?

What did you love best about Macbeth (Dramatised)?

The quality actors give the story the drama that it needs.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Macbeth (Dramatised)?

The sound effects were dramatic and useful for exits and scene changes.

Have you listened to any of Alec Guinness and Pamela Brown ’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

This is the only sound recording that I have by these performers.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

This is Shakespeare, and the performance is on par with the material.

Any additional comments?

This is abridged, so scenes may be omitted or reduced in length. Almost all performances of Shakespeare's tragedies recieve this treatment. It makes reading along a challenge, but the performance adds to the understanding. Shakespeare wrote for the stage. Sometimes a reference is needed to understand the exits and entrances or who is speaking. Overall, it is an excellent performance. A stage presentation would be ideal, but this is better than reading the lines. It is a performance and enables the listener to better engage the text.

enjoyable solipsism

I can listen to this over and over again, as horrible as the action is. It's just one of those things. Highly recommend it.