Title: James Joyce’s Dubliners. (3 CD
Collection)
Writer: James Joyce
Adaptor: Wonderland Productions
Reviewer: Ciara Murphy
Reviewed for: The Public Reviews
[Rating:4.0]
Adapted from the widely successful James
Joyce Dublin Walking tour, James Joyce’s Dubliners is a well-rounded collection
of ten stories taken from the book of the same title. The collection is presented across 3 CDs
and is more theatre than audiobook.
These stories, with narration lead by Barry
McGovern, offer the listener a comprehensive Joycean experience, which is both
electric and moving.
The voices of the actors, framed
beautifully by the vibrant and atmospheric background sounds, bring to life the
world of James Joyce’s Dublin, and represent this era as something which has
never been lost. It is ours to gain.
A highlight of this work is the
spine-tingling adaption of ‘The Dead’. The longest of the stories, it uses its
individuality to its advantage by contrasting the warm domestic atmosphere of
the long anticipated party with an undercurrent of chilling silences. The
duality of the setting truly brings the reality of its characters to the front
of this domestic setting and illuminates something very real to its listeners.
Across all of these stories, Wonderland
Productions have produced a fantastic mix of voices, which bind together to
create something truly authentic. The listener is treated to a variety of
emotions, and is an active participant in the character’s journeys. Humour,
sadness, grief, passion and hope are running themes, and despite the difference
in era, these stories still remain universally relevant. The listener is given
the ability to empathise with the bodiless voices that feel as real as watching
an actor onstage.
Beautifully paced, this collection is easy
listening.
A fantastic treat for any Joyce enthusiast.
A taste of Dublin, both bitter and sweet.
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