Radio Drama (Audio Drama) Spotlight

Friday, August 31, 2012

#141 Star Wars: Smuggler's Gambit

With any luck Star Wars radio drama fans may have something new to look forward to. After months of writing, casting and other preparations Kyle Newman's Star Wars: Smuggler's Gambit was performed live at the Star Wars Celebration VI convention in Orlando, Florida over the weekend of August 23-26, 2012. The story is based on concepts from original Star Wars radio drama writer Brian Daley's Han Solo Adventure books and set just after the events of Star Wars: A New Hope. According to Newman Smuggler's Gambit was designed to be a fun, fast-paced story in the spirit of the classic Star Wars radio dramas written by Daley. The story not only incorporates original characters such as Han Solo, Chewbacca, Luke Skywalker, Leia Organa, R2D2, and Boba Fett but also a few new characters as well.

Newman's desire to create a quality production spurred him on to seek out a highly talented cast of actors. And he found one when he cast the actors from The Clone Wars Animated Series. In the cast are...
David Collins as Han Solo
Ashley Eckstein as Ryder Thorne – a conflicted upstart hustling her way through the outer rim who suddenly finds herself in way over her head on a deal…
Sam Witwer as Ro Kurota – a brash, young smuggler turned bounty hunter eager to make a name for himself.
Matt Lanter as Luke Skywalker
Dee Bradley Baker as Black Sun crime lord “Prince Xixor” and “Sweeper” – an unsavory face from Solo’s past.
Clare Grant as Princess Leia
Matthew Wood as Bib Fortuna
Daniel Logan as Boba Fett
Tom Kane Imperial Lieutenant Kane, the “Narrator” and the program’s “Announcer”

Jimmy Mac (Forcecast) Producer and Sound Effects. Over 100 sound cues were played during the production.

No doubt Star Wars fans will be waiting with eager anticipation to find out if last weekends live performance of Star Wars: Smuggler's Run radio drama was recorded for future release.

Script Intro from Kyle Newman:

NARRATOR

A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away…

MUSIC: STAR WARS MAIN THEME (LOUD FOR 25 SECONDS THEN FADE DOWN, PLAYING UNDER…)

NARRATOR

Several months have passed since the Rebellion’s surprise victory over the Empire at Yavin IV and the destruction of the DEATH STAR. With the location of their secret base revealed, the Rebels are now on the run, dangerously adrift in space.

Realizing the Imperial armada is determined to quash the growing insurgency at all costs, PRINCESS LEIA, youthful leader of the Rebel Alliance, orders a covert galaxy wide search for a new hideaway to continue the Rebellion.

Spearheaded by former smugglers HAN SOLO and CHEWBACCA the Wookiee, a small reconnaissance team has been dispatched to ABROSSOS VI in hopes of securing new refuge. But Han and Chewie, not exactly team players, are still unsure of their place in the Alliance…

Monday, August 20, 2012

#140 The Guns of Navarone (BBC)

World War II was not only a demonstration of the destructive force of human nature but also a testimony to the resilience of the human spirit and the will to survive. This global conflict, its many battles and multitude of personalities, has been the inspiration for a vast array of highly entertaining Hollywood movies: The Sands of Iwo Jima, The Longest Day, Patton, The Dirty Dozen, Tora-Tora-Tora, Where Eagle's Dare, The Great Escape, The Guns of Navarone, and many, many more. However, in the nearly 70 years since the end of WWII it seems the audio drama community has failed to make use of the storehouse of potential stories from this era of history. What adventures could be had... What stories could be told... in this perfect medium for an action tale.

There is, however, one exception to the rule: the BBC's production of The Guns of Navarone. Based on the Alistar McLean novel this radio adaptation by the legendary Bert Coules tells the tale of a band of men who take on the impossible task of silencing The Guns of Navarone. Two huge German cannons protected by an impregnable fortress on the island of Kheros. Two huge cannons that destroy any allied ships that pass by in the Aegean Sea and that prevent 2000 British troops from being rescued from the island. The commando team's dangerous assignment begins almost immediately with trouble at sea as they attempt to land on Navarone. Their struggles continue upon reaching shore as they must overcome and outmaneuver the island's Nazi occupation force long enough to carry out their mission and survive. Gripping and intense this World War II tale is sure to please listeners who yearn for action and adventure.

Starring Toby Stevens, Michael Williams, David Rintoul.

From the BBC:
It is 1943. Two huge German guns in the grim, impregnable fortress on a huge beautiful island off the coast of Turkey are having a devastating impact on Allied shipping and preventing the evacuation of hard-pressed British troops from the nearby island of Kheros. The Germans are poised to overrun and unless the guns can be put out of action within a matter of days, a thousand men will die.
All previous attempts to attack the fortress of Navarone have failed. It is time for one last desperate throw of the dice. And so a select Subversive Operations commando unit, led by the famous pre-war mountaineer Captain Keith Mallory, launches a daring and very possibly suicidal raid.

This BBC Radio 2 dramatisation, starring Toby Stephens and Michael Williams, brings to exhilarating life one of the greatest adventure stories of World War II.

http://www.amazon.com/The-Guns-of-Navarone/dp/B003OXTOHK

Sunday, August 19, 2012

#139 Anne of Green Gables (Focus on the Family)

Focus on the Family brings you Anne of Green Gables. Aging siblings Matthew and Marilla Cuthbert have decided to adopt an orphaned boy to help them work on their Prince Edward Island farm. However, the boy they are expecting to meet at the train station turns out, to their astonishment, to be a young redheaded girl. The Cuthbert's can't imagine how a young girl could be of any use on the farm and so Marilla decides the Anne must return to the orphanage. However, after a few days, pity and curiosity for Anne get the better of her and she decides to let her stay. Before long the Cuthbert's adopt Anne and with feisty determination this lively and spirited young girl sets out to win over new friends and the world as she grows up. And so begins the heartwarming and hilarious adventures of Anne Shirley.

Anne of Green Gables is delightfully produced wholesome entertainment for the entire family. It features fine acting and an original musical score.

Mae Whitman (Independence Day, Hope Floats) as Anne
Christina Pickles (Legends of the Fall) as Marilla.

From Focus on the Family:
This captivating new radio drama production based on the beloved book by Lucy M. Montgomery allows listeners to personally experience the world and characters presented in Anne of Green Gables in a whole new way! Anne of Green Gables is the story of a little girl's feisty spirit and strong determination that win over the hearts of the people of Avonlea, the love and commitment of family, and a poor orphan growing up into a distinguished young woman.

http://www.amazon.com/Anne-Green-Gables-Radio-Theatre/dp/1589975022

Monday, July 23, 2012

#138 Sherlock Holmes Vs Dracula (BBC)

A ship has arrived on the shores of England with a missing crew and a dead captain who had lashed himself to the wheel. The captain's dead face is twisted in terror. No reason can be given as to why he died except that he is totally devoid of blood. Yet there are no signs of violence. There is no blood on the captain or the surrounding area. The only marks on the body are two small puncture wounds on the neck. Baffled by this strange event a local reporter enlists the aid of Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson to solve the mystery. Soon the great detective discerns that Count Dracula has made his way to England. So too has Professor Abraham Van Helsing who has followed the Count from his homeland in his ardently quest to destroy the vampire. But it's Holmes and Watson that are hot on the trail of the dark plague of the night. And before long their dogged pursuit forces a desperate Dracula to turn his attention to Holmes and Watson. It's up to Sherlock Holmes to stop Dracula. But will the fiendish Transylvanian terror prove to be too formidable for the great detective and his faithful friend and companion?

John Moffatt who most will recognize as the voice of Hercule Poirot in the long running BBC's radio drama mystery series stars as Sherlock Holmes in this adaption. Moffatt does a excellent job a Holmes. This is a finely written story that proves to be most entertaining. Not too dark or sinister. Yet a nice touch of goose bump raising fright and mystery. So turn down the lights..... if you dare!

This production doesn't appear to be available for purchase from the BBC. It has been rebroadcast on a number of occasions in recent years.

First broadcast by BBC Radio 4 on December 19th, 1981.

Rebroadcast Sunday November 7, 2007 BBC Radio 7; Thursday November 4, 2010 BBC Radio 4; Sunday October 30, 2011 BBC Radio 4

From the BBC:

The year is 1890. A ship is discovered adrift off the English coast, its crew missing, its murdered captain lashed to the wheel, and its only passenger is a sinister black dog. This impenetrable mystery is clearly a case for the inimitable Sherlock Holmes, but for the first time in his illustrious career the great detective is baffled. Clearly the crew have been murdered and dumped overboard, but what can account for the captain's expression of imponderable terror and his acute loss of blood, or the ship's strange cargo - fifty boxes of earth?
The game is afoot, and Sherlock Holmes, aided as ever by the faithful Dr. Watson, finds himself on the trail of no mortal enemy, but the arch-vampire himself - Count Dracula...

Sherlock Holmes...........John Moffatt

Doctor John Watson......Timothy West

Count Dracula..............David March

Professor Van Helsing.....Aubrey Woods

Thomas Parker..........Michael Maloney

Mr. Caffyn................Noel Howlett

Mary Watson........Theresa Streatfeild

Vampire.................Frances Jeater

Inspector Lestrade...Nicholas Courtney

Mrs. Barton.............Katherine Parr

Red Bridger................John Hollis

Adapted for radio and directed by Glyn Dearman.

Monday, June 18, 2012

The Mark of Zorro Sequel

According to the Zorro Productions Inc website and the Zorro Swashbuckling News and Updates blog a sequel to The Mark of Zorro is forthcoming. Award winning Australian dramatist Barry Creyton (Australian Broadcasting Corporation and BBC) will man the helm for the follow up production replacing the late Yuri Rasovsky. Interestingly Creyton has a reputation for creating cinematic audio drama so the expectation will be for high octane sound effects and music. Val Kilmer and Ruth Livier will return to reprise their roles as Zorro and Lolita Pulido. No word on what other noted Hollywood names might be cast in the follow up to the Grammy and double Audie nominated drama.

The Mark of Zorro
http://radiodramaspotlight.blogspot.com/2011/07/4-mark-of-zorro.html

#137 The ABC Murders (Hercule Poirot)

It's a murderous game of catch me if you can! A killer has challenged the genius of Poirot's "little grey cells" sending him a letter saying a person whose name begins with the letter "A" will be murdered on a certain date in a certain city and it's up to him to stop it from happening. If he refuses the case or can't solve the crime in time another murder will be soon to follow. This time a person will die whose name begins with the letter "B". For each failure to stop the killer he vows to strike again randomly selecting a victim who name begins with the next letter in the alphabet. To chastise Poirot and show him he's not so clever the killer sends him a taunting letter with a clue to the identity of the next victim. John Moffatt provides the voice of Hercule Poirot in another great murder mystery from the mind of Agatha Christie produced by the BBC.

From the BBC:
A BBC Radio full-cast dramatization starring John Moffatt as the great Belgian detective. Alice Ascher is murdered at Andover. Betty Barnard is strangled at Bexhill-on-Sea. Each time, an ABC railway guide is found by the dead bodies and, each time, Poirot is warned in advance by a letter from someone signed "ABC." But who is ABC? And can Poirot find out in time to prevent the death of C?

http://www.amazon.com/The-ABC-Murders-Full-Cast-Radio/dp/0563510501

#136 Son of a Wanted Man (Louis L'Amour)

Louis L'Amour brings you almost 3 hours of western adventure in Son of a Wanted Man. Based loosely on the full length Louis L'Amour novel this story tells the tale of Miguel "Mike" Santos. Orphaned at a young age by outlaws who killed his father in a robbery he is taken to live with the gang and raised by their leader Ben Curry. He's grown up learning the ways of living on the wrong side of the law. He knows how to cheat at cards, rustle cattle, work over a brand, crack a safe, plan a hold up, rob a bank, a stage or a train, and make a get away without getting caught. He's good with a gun. Pistol or rifle, makes no difference. He can hunt and track. But Mike has also been educated on the ways of the outside world as well. Now as an adult his adoptive father is about to leave the outfit to him. Will this be the life he chooses to lead or will he choose another path? Will Mike have time to make a decision one way or another before the law pinpoints the hideout and all hell breaks loose? Will he be able to stave off an insurrection by some of Ben's own men?

Son of a Wanted Man is traditional high stakes fun from Louis L'Amour. This production offers a strong story and exceptional acting. Produced in the truest sense of a radio drama this presentation has, with the exception of the opening introduction, no narration. Son of a Wanted Man is a first rate drama any western fan is sure to enjoy.

From Louis L'Amour:

Son of A Wanted Man tells the story of Ben Curry and his adopted son Mike Santos. In a remote corner of California's High Sierra mountains lies the secret outlaw kingdom of Ben Curry. For fifteen years Curry has ruled supreme. But the king is getting old, and he wants to turn his legacy over to someone and get out -someone like Mike. Mike is a young man who can handle a knife, a gun, his fists, and who's been trained in every criminal skill. But so far he's never broken the law. Now, as treachery explodes among Ben's riders, Mike must choose.between his loyalty to Ben or his yearning for a different life.

Listen to the trailer:
http://www.sonofawantedman.com/trailer.htm

Buy or learn more about Son of a Wanted Man:
http://www.louislamour.com/audio/sonofawantedman.htm