Anna In The Tropics

L.A. Theatre Works presents yet another production recorded live before an appreciative audience. Star Jimmy Smits embraces his role with verve and enthusiasm in this charming and passionate Pulitzer Prize-winning play. The entire cast rises to the occasion before the sensitive microphones, unreeling a torrid yet thoughtful romantic tragedy set among immigrant cigar-rollers in 1929 Florida. The surreal writing is translated warmly and creatively, making this listen a rare entertainment and making it clear other theater companies could easily follow this lead and add to the genre. A bonus interview with Smits adds some fascinating back story on the actor's reasons for making time for this project and why the play makes an important statement. D.J.B. (c) AudioFile 2006, Portland, Maine

November 28, 2005
When Juan Julian, a new lector, arrives at the tobacco shop, lives will inexorably be changed as he navigates through the prose of Anna Karenina for the edification of the cigar rollers. Set in Florida in 1929, the characters battle each other and themselves about the changing times as they confront technology, equality, money and love, reflected in the passages read by Julian. Though provocative and provoking in its suggestions and themes, this performance doesn't have much to beyond that. Jimmy Smits's performance peaks with his charged passages from Tolstoy's novel, but throughout the rest of the play his performance proves less than stellar. Some memorable performances include Winston Rocha as Santiago and Onahoua Rodriguez as Marela, but overall, the building tension in the short play feels forced and the performers seem to know this. L.A. Theatre Works, perhaps recognizing the brevity of the performance of this surprise Pulitzer Prize winner, provides an interview with Jimmy Smits to round out the production. The interview provides some insight to the decisions and the motivations of the cast as well as the director and writer.

December 1, 2006
Gr 9 Up-This live audio performance of Reginald Roses teleplay, "Twelve Angry Men" (1954), is the story of 12 male jurors who deliberate on the fate of a young man accused of stabbing his father. The presumed open-and-shut case veers off course when an initial vote shows a lone dissenter. Bullied by the others, he maintains a calm demeanor and raises questions about the boys motive and background that werent addressed in the trial. A second round of voting produces more doubt and heated discussions ensue about witnesses and circumstantial evidence. As hours tick away, each juror finds a voiceand the mob mentality that prevailed at the start gives way to a sense of justice. Just as the boy is unnamed, the men are known to each other only by their juror number. The jumble of male voices are indistinguishable, at first, but slowly become recognizable by their tone or accent, such as the opinionated racist, the empathetic Latino, and the slow-talking elderly man. The five straw votes serve as a clever device to move the plot. The full cast of narrators include some well-known actors such as Robert Foxworth and Hector Elizondo. In addition to the performance of the play, Reginald Roses widow reflects on her late husbands career and other work, such as war movies and the TV show, "The Defenders". This well-done audio presentation is appropriate for high school literature and social studies classes as an example of jury dynamics and the effects of prejudice on the jury system."Vicki Reutter, Cazenovia High School, NY"

Copyright 2006 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

April 3, 2006
When Juan Julian, a new lector, arrives at the tobacco shop, lives will inexorably be changed as he navigates through the prose of Anna Karenina for the edification of the cigar rollers. Set in Florida in 1929, the characters battle each other and themselves about the changing times as they confront technology, equality, money and love, reflected in the passages read by Julian. Though provocative and provoking in its suggestions and themes, this performance doesn't have much to beyond that. Jimmy Smits's performance peaks with his charged passages from Tolstoy's novel, but throughout the rest of the play his performance proves less than stellar. Some memorable performances include Winston Rocha as Santiago and Onahoua Rodriguez as Marela, but overall, the building tension in the short play feels forced and the performers seem to know this. L.A. Theatre Works, perhaps recognizing the brevity of the performance of this surprise Pulitzer Prize winner, provides an interview with Jimmy Smits to round out the production. The interview provides some insight to the decisions and the motivations of the cast as well as the director and writer.

Copyright 2006 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.