Man & Superman

By: Bernard Shaw

Narrated by: Full Cast, Judi Dench, Juliet Stevenson, Ralph Fiennes

Man and Superman was the first drama to be broadcast on the BBC's Third Programme on October 1st, 1946. To celebrate Radio 3's 50th anniversary, the play was directed by Sir Peter Hall, and preserved for all time in this lush audio dramatisation. 'A comedy and a philosophy', Man and Superman is based on the Don Juan theme and, using all the elements from Mozart's Don Giovanni, Shaw reordered them so that Don Juan becomes the quarry instead of the huntsman. Boasting an outstanding cast including Ralph Fiennes, Juliet Stevenson, Dame Judi Dench, John Wood, Nicholas Le Prevost and Paul Merton, this release includes an exclusive interview with director Sir Peter Hall.

The Greatest Philoso-dramedy of All Time

Shaw’s most accomplished comic philosophy. A magnificent text executed by the most expert actor-technicians. Bravo/a all.

Very entertaining and intelligent

If you could sum up Man and Superman in three words, what would they be?

Superior, yet in love.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Jack Tanner.

Which scene was your favorite?

Chapters 8, 9 & 10: specific to the superman idea and conflict.

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

Listening to the Tanner character (magnificiently narrated by Ralph Fiennes).

Any additional comments?

Repeated the Jack Tanner's narration repeatedly to better understand the character.

Incredible quality

Shaw's plays are meant to be heard rather than read, and these actors deliver it beautifully. The production quality is beautiful and the ambiance is lovely. I used this audiobook to help me study Shaw for a class, and I highly recommend listening while reading along and taking notes in the margins if you really need to grasp the concepts. It really helped!
All that being said, the story is at times tough to sit through. It's boring to listen to some assorted Brits argue about a girl's use of nicknames. But that's just my personal taste-- Shaw is an incredible writer, and absolutely worthy of listening to.

A good time is guaranteed with this play

A wonderful performance by the actors especially Ralph Fiennes. Such a great masterpiece. Highly recommended.

An Entertaining Philisopical Farce

This play gives away entirely too many secrets and does so with wit and amazing timing. The second act is so full of philosophy as to be quite convincing as hell.