Title: Dead and Gone
Author: Adaptation of James Joyce
Producer: Chatterbox Audio Theater
Type: Audio Drama
Genre: Drama
Availability: Forthcoming download
My Two Cents: If you’re a loyal listener to the show, you’ve heard me rave about the Chatterbox Audio Theater, a Memphis-based audio theater group who have brought us excellent adaptations (Kafka’s In the Penal Colony) as well as stunning originals (The Dead Girl, anyone?). Their latest, “Dead and Gone,” does not disappoint.
“Dead and Gone” is a Southern retelling of the James Joyce tale, “The Dead.” Yes, you heard me right.
Not only does Chatterbox have the guts to take on James Joyce, but they transpose wintry and gloomy Dublin with Memphis. F–in brilliant! The adaptation is right-on, from the transposition of an ill-fated love from Galway to New Orleans, to the accusation of misplaced loyalties from “West Briton” to “Scallywag.”
Good, good, good.
My hat also goes off to the great cast of Chatterboxers, who put umph and vitality into every ounce of their performances. The production is serious drama, and while the sound effects and music are understated, they fit this terse and introspective story well.
As far as listening to this fabulous production? It’s not available for public consumption from Chatterbox’s website just yet. I caught one of their notices to hear it live on WKNO in Memphis. The next opportunity is Sunday, August 16 on KUNM-FM, 6PM MDT (8PM for us in the East). Here’s the live listen link: http://kunm.org/listen/. If you miss the live event, you’ll be able to hear it from Chatterbox’s website, eventually.
Serious drama in audio is about as hard as it gets. But Chatterbox pulls it off with the hardest artist there is, and in spades. Bravo!
Their stuff is the best audio theater on the web. The acting is amazing, as is the writing, direction, sound effects and mixing – all totally brilliant. I’ve gotten chills twice listening to their original horror pieces – no easy task (and kind of embarrassing to admit). Highly recommended.