Orson's Shadow

Austin Pendleton's fascinating and entertaining play uses the 1960 London rehearsals of a production of Ionesco's RHINOCEROS as the context for an exploration of celebrity vs. artistry, survival vs. self-destruction, and most of all, betrayal of others vs. betrayal of one's artistic gifts. It's a backstage story of celebrities: Orson Welles (Robert Machray), whose career has waned, is directing Laurence Olivier (Martin Jarvis) in Ionesco and longing for the money to do a film about Shakespeare's Falstaff. The superb vocal performances of the entire cast make for an eerily enthralling listening experience that is like eavesdropping on genius. Robert Machray and Martin Jarvis are uncanny at capturing the sounds and rhythms of Welles's and Olivier's memorable voices and at bringing these giants to life. G.H. Winner of AUDIOFILE Earphones Award (c) AudioFile 2004, Portland, Maine