Orson's Shadow

By: Austin Pendleton

Narrated by: full cast

Sir Laurence Olivier. Orson Welles. Vivien Leigh. Joan Plowright. Kenneth Tynan. When these champions of the theatre get together to rehearse Ionesco's Rhinoceros, mere mortals best step aside. With lightning wit and scathing insight into the true nature of genius, Austin Pendleton's new play opens the private worlds of these very public people, exposing their warmth, their egos, and their glittering madness.

Starring (in alphabetical order):
Caroline Goodall as Joan Plowright
Glenne Headly as Vivien Leigh
Martin Jarvis as Laurence Olivier
Robert Machray as Orson Welles
Orlando Seale as Sean
Simon Templeman as Kenneth Tynan

©2006 Austin Pendleton (P)2003 L.A. Theatre Works

Fascinating!

A fine production of a play about actors and the artistic process. It covers the challenging effort to work together by two of the 20th Century's great stage talents--Orson Welles and Laurence Olivier--in the absurdist playwright Ionesco's "Rhinoceros." The actors do a wonderful job--I particularly enjoyed Martin Jarvis's fine reproduction of Olivier's voice and intonations. The only weak link is Gleane Headley's brave but essentially unsuccessful attempt to evoke Vivien Leigh, which I admit is an almost impossible task. Altogether, however, this production is a fine effort that is highly enjoyable. Movie and stage buffs (particularly of the 1940s thru '60s) will have the most fun.

A fun look at a couple legends

Sometimes it’s hard to hear your heroes behaving in such self destructive ways, but the show is a bit of a fantasia, so it works. I know Austin Pendleton as an actor, but he’s a dynamite script writer too. He weaves fact and fiction into a truly human look at two (or five) legends, magnificently portrayed by a wonderful cast.

If you’re interested in Welles and Olivier you will have a good time with this audio. And the price is a sweet deal too.

Orson’s Shadow 👏👏👏👏👏

Aside from the late Glenn Headley I am unfamiliar with this cast but WOW. They are all brilliant. The performers playing Welles & Olivier capture them in their voices if not doing EXACT impressions. It’s flawless to me. The script is so smart, so spot on in its word choices & pacing. The actor playing Tynan does a great stutter. Headley’s Vivien Leigh is as charming as Scarlett O’Hara & just as devious while at the same time as fragile as Blanche Dubois. Stunning. God I miss her. It’s just a terrific show, I’d like to be able to see the scene of Welles trying to direct Olivier when he has the towel. There were a couple other things that I’d like to see but overall this works as an audio play thanks to the writing & performances.