Macbeth: Fully Dramatized Audio Edition

By: William Shakespeare

Narrated by: full cast

Length: 2 hrs and 12 mins

Publisher's Summary

Folger Shakespeare Library, The World’s Leading Center for Shakespeare Studies

The Folger Shakespeare Library, home to the world's largest Shakespeare collection, brings Macbeth to life with this new full-length, full-cast dramatic recording of its definitive Folger Edition.

Macbeth, one of Shakespeare's most popular plays, is among the most powerful and influential tragedies in the English language. Promised a golden future as ruler of Scotland by three sinister witches, Macbeth murders the king in order to succeed to the throne. Tortured by his conscience and fearful of discovery, he becomes fatally enmeshed in a web of treachery and deceit.

This new full-cast recording - based on the most respected edition of Shakespeare's classic - expertly produced by the Folger Theatre, is perfect for students, teachers, and the everyday listener.

Public Domain (P)2014 Simon & Schuster

excellent

This dramitization followed original script word for word. I read as I listened to know whose voice was speaking.

2 of 2 people found this review helpful

Better than expected! Helpful in the classroom.

Reading some of these reviews made me wary, but I needed quick access to an audio version of Macbeth so I purchased it anyway. I am glad I did! One person has commented that the book is difficult to navigate, but actually, each section of the audiobook is a different scene in the play. Yes, they are labeled as "Section One" instead of "Act One, Scene One" but knowing that you just need to hit Next to go to the next scene has made it pretty easy to find my place in the play.

I was also pleasantly surprised by the performance. I've listened to plenty of audiobooks from Audible, including several whose readers were painful to listen to. I think this cast is clear and engaging. I played a clip to my students, and they enjoyed it much more than other performances we had listened to.

2 of 2 people found this review helpful

Useful as a teaching resource alongside the text.

Would you consider the audio edition of Macbeth: Fully Dramatized Audio Edition to be better than the print version?

No, although it is very helpful to use when reading in class.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Macbeth: Fully Dramatized Audio Edition?

Some of the soliloquies are well-done, which helps when teaching as usually students tend to lose interest depending on the grade-level one teaches.

Did full cast do a good job differentiating all the characters? How?

Yes. It was clear which character was speaking at all times. However, some of the interpretations of the characters were a little hammy (witches), and there are more than a few dodgy accents in there. Despite this, it was still useful as a teaching tool and wasn't a distraction from the plot or story.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

N/A

3 of 4 people found this review helpful

Voice actors don't match the characters

The actors sound constantly out of breath and stumbling, like overly dramatic teenagers or Michael Cera. Not at all fitting for the figures King MacBeth and Banquo. Completely ruins the story hearing their uneven breaths and insecure delivery.

Especially after listening to the Tempest, narrated by Ian McKellen, this audio book sounds completely amateur .

Couldn't make it past the first thirty minutes.

7 of 10 people found this review helpful

great!

it had great music and acting, it broight the play to life and it helped me understand it

2 of 3 people found this review helpful

Too many American accents

Look, it was alright. The witches were good! Although some actors put on English accents, the occasional American accent really grates. I'm sorry but Macbeth should be done with English accents not American. just my view I know, but it ruined my enjoyment. Sorry.

6 of 11 people found this review helpful

Chapters???

The reading is great. It’s a decent version of the script as well. But it is labeled in chapters! The chapters are not labeled by act or scene. It’s seems a bastardization to present it that way. On top not being able to skip around cause you have no idea what chapter 22 is in a Shakespeare script! Very disappointing. I can assume all Folgers Shakespeare’s are like this and will consider greatly before buying again in the future. WTAF?

Worth it

Macbeth is one of my favorite please but I was a little concerned of how it would sound on an audiobook. Those concerns were for naught, as everything about it was amazing. the full cast did an amazing job and it grabbed my attention immediately. I will be listening to the other Shakespeare audiobooks from the same company. Highly recommend.

Glitches towards the end

Toward the last Act 5...Scene 5...there is a glitch that continues to stop the recording. It is frustrating because when you skip forward it will bounce back.

Fantastic Audible adaptation! Loved it!

This was such a great play and I loved listening to it and even though it was a tragedy, I just thought it was so funny and such a witty play.