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"The joy for me is knowing that somebody can have this strange audio experience. They're getting something as good as you get from radio." - Neil GaimenProduced by the Sci-Fi Channel and Seeing Ear Theatre - these two plays are adapted for voice by Neil Gaiman from two of his short stories (both stories can be found in Smoke & Mirrors).SNOW GLASS APPLES: Once upon a time there lived a young princess with skin as white as snow, with hair as black as coal, with lips redder than blood. Most people think they know what happens to this young unfortunate girl. Most people are wrong. Tony-award winning actress Bebe Neuwirth (Chicago, Sweet Charity, and TV's Cheers) stars as a wise Queen who wants nothing more than to reign over her kingdom peacefully but is forced to match wits with an inhuman child who has an unnatural taste for blood.Full Cast List:Bebe Neuwirth as the Queen; Martin Carey as the Huntsman; Mark Evans as the Prince; Merwin Goldsmith as the Lord of the Fair; J.R. Horne as the Archbishop & Friar; Alissa Hunnicutt as the Maidservant; Randy Maggiore as a Soldier; Kate Simses as the Princess; Nick Wyman as the KingMURDER MYSTERIES: In this mystery noir set in heaven's City of Angels before the fall, the first crime has been committed. It is an awful one. While the angelic hosts labor to create the world and its workings, one of their number is mysteriously slain by one of their own. Raguel, Angel of Vengeance, is mandated by Lucifer to discover both motive and murderer in this holy dominion that had so recently known no sin.Full Cast List:Brian Dennehy as Raguel; Anne Bobby as Tink's Friend; Christopher Burns as Saraquael; Thom Christopher as Lucifer; Ed Dennehy as Zephkiel; Michael Emerson as Narrator; Traci Godfrey as Tinkerbell Richmond; Evan Pappas as Phanuel
These two audio dramas reframe established narratives of folklore and celestial history through the lens of investigation and subverted perspective. In the first play, a queen attempts to maintain order against a princess whose nature is far more predatory than traditional fairy tales suggest. In the second, an angel tasked with vengeance must navigate the politics of a pre-fall heaven to solve the first murder in existence. Both narratives utilize the constraints of audio performance to emphasize dialogue, atmospheric sound design, and the internal monologues of characters operating under extreme moral pressure.
Readers and listeners frequently highlight the effectiveness of the audio medium in enhancing the dark, atmospheric tone of Gaiman's writing. Discussion often centers on the creative subversion of the Snow White myth, with many noting the shift in sympathy toward the Queen. Critics appreciate the noir elements present in the celestial murder mystery, noting how the genre tropes translate well to the supernatural setting. The performances by the full cast are often cited as a primary factor in the success of these adaptations. Overall, the work is viewed as a distinct entry in Gaiman's bibliography that prioritizes vocal performance and character-driven tension.
Page Count:
0
Publication Date:
2002-09-17
Publisher:
Caedmon
ISBN-10:
0060012579
ISBN-13:
9780060012571
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