Richard II

Arkangel's full-cast recording of RICHARD II foreshadows the master playwright's more emotional and intellectual HENRY V and his ultimate study in power, HAMLET. This company of fine actors, featuring the raspy Rupert Graves as the fading King Richard and the energetic Julian Glover as the rising Bollingbroke, revels in the lyricism of Shakespeare's poetry. Listeners will easily lose themselves in the rhythm of the erudite language and period-sounding music, written especially for this production. A top-notch recording with colorful packaging, which includes a listing of each scene with a summary of its action and photos taken during the recording process, makes this production a gift to all for the ages. R.O. (c) AudioFile 2005, Portland, Maine

Another Shakespeare recording from the golden age of Canadian radio drama. Though thin and laconic to American ears, these CBC productions are nonetheless superior to the stuffy BBC versions of the same titles. (In production, the British tend to entomb their classic plays.) If this Richard II hath not vigor, it stinteth not in poetry; it is always poetic and sometimes sings. It's best heard while reading along with an annotated copy of the script. This reviewer's copy contained some technical glitches, so caveat emptor. Y.R. (c)AudioFile, Portland, Maine