Eolaus, a lyrical dramatic poem

by James Allen

Presented by Voices of Today

In 1907 New Thought author James Allen published a verse anthology entitled Poems of Peace. Included in the collection is his sole dramatic work, Eolaus, which describes the journey of a troubled pilgrim from the wilderness of worldly despair to the heights of personal realization.

Cast

Narrator, The Prophet, Earth and Cosmos – Gregory Sheridan

Eolaus – Benjamin Hartin

The First Voice of Nature and the First Voice of Truth – Linda Barrans

The Second Voice of Nature and the Second Voice of Truth – Carol Box

The Third Voice of Nature and the Third Voice of Truth – Rhonda Federman

The Fourth Voice of Nature and the Fourth Voice of Truth – Susan Iannucci

The Fifth Voice of Nature and the Fifth Voice of Truth – Terah Tucker

The Sixth Voice of Nature and Heaven – Erin Grassie

Musical excerpts from Ease, composed by Chris Collins. Rights held by Chris Collins. Used with permission from the composer.

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A James Allen Collection

James Allen (1864 – 1912) was one of the most celebrated exponents of New Thought philosophy, a synthesis of universalist spiritual principles, which has since become the basis of many of the theories promulgated by the vast self-improvement industry of the present day.

Allen’s basic thesis was that thought is the ultimate creative force in the universe and that the laws governing the material world are also operative in the spiritual realm. His books explore the application of these principles, not only to religious philosophy but also to various practical aspects of daily life.

Contents:

As A Man Thinketh

Above Life’s Turmoil

All These Things Added

Byways of Blessedness

Eight Pillars of Prosperity

Foundation Stones of Happiness and Success

From Passion to Peace

From Poverty to Power

Light on Life’s Difficulties

Man: King of Mind, Body, and Circumstance

Men and Systems

Morning and Evening Thoughts

Out from the Heart

Poems of Peace

The Life Triumphant

The Mastery of Destiny

The Shining Gateway

Through the Gates of Good

The Heavenly Life

The Divine Companion

Eolaus – a lyrical dramatic poem

Narration by Gregory Sheridan

Also featuring the following additional voices:

The Divine Companion – disciple performed by Simon Paxton

Eolaus – a lyrical dramatic poem – roles performed by

Benjamin Hartin, Linda Barrans, Carol Box, Rhonda Federman, Terah Tucker, Susan Iannucci and Erin Grassie.

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The Divine Comedy by Dante Alighieri, translated by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, presented by The Online Stage.

Welcome to Dante’s The Divine Comedy, the ultimate journey to Paradise. Follow Italian writer and philosopher Dante Alighieri and his guide, the poet Virgil, through each circle of hell, over the mountain of Purgatory, and ultimately to Paradise, to be reunited with his beloved Beatrice. Dante meets many familiar faces among the sinners and the saved and learns many things of value throughout his long, dangerous journey.

Cast:

Dante – Josh Innerst

Virgil – David Stifel

Other Voices – Anna Grace, Erin Grassie, Marcia Dunbar, Chris Marcellus, Merete Mohs, Ted Wenskus, Trisha Rose, John Burlinson, Andy Harrington, Hann Lightwood, Rob Goll, Ron Altman, Alyssa Petrey, Andrew Coleman, Tyler Hyrchuk, Russell Gold, P. J. Morgan, Stephen Indrisano, Lee Ann Howlett, Jeff Moon, Rosie O’Toole, Marty Krz, J.D. Sutter, Ariana Mertz, Linda Barrans, and Grace Keller Scotch.

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By Gene Stratton-Porter

Presented by Voices of Today

Featuring the voices of Susan Iannucci, David Shears, Sarah Bacaller, Ben Stevens, Linda Barrans, Graham Scott, Marty Krz, John Burlinson, Trisha Rose and Lee Ann Howlett

Freckles is primarily set in the Limberlost Swamp of Indiana, U.S.A., with brief scenes set in Chicago. 

Freckles is the only name he has ever known. His right hand is missing at the wrist, and he is haunted by not knowing how it happened. Raised since infancy in a Chicago orphanage, he speaks with a slight Irish accent and sings with a beautiful voice. Now, exhausted after many days of walking, he applies for a job with the Grand Rapids Lumber Company, guarding timber in the Limberlost Swamp from timber thieves.

Along with timber thieves, visitors to the swamp are the Bird Woman, who often comes to photograph birds’ nests, and a lovely young woman who Freckles promptly falls in love with and names his “Swamp Angel”. He fears that he is descended from criminals who abused their baby and cut off his hand intentionally so he cannot be worthy of her. The Swamp Angel declares her love for him and promises that she will find his parents and prove that Freckles comes from “a race of men that have been gentlemen for ages, and couldn’t be anything else.”

Be sure to follow up by listening to this book with the sequel, The Girl of the Limberlost, also produced by Voices of Today.

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A Gene Stratton Porter Collection

Freckles and A Girl of the Limberlost are two of Gene Stratton Porter’s most famous novels. Set primarily in the Limberlost Swamp of Indiana, USA, Freckles follows the story of Freckles, a lame orphan whose innate character rises above his circumstances. A Girl of the Limberlost is the story of Elnora, blamed for her father’s death by her mother, who nevertheless meets every challenge that comes her way with admirable resilience. Uplifting and encouraging family listening!

Narration by Susan Iannucci. Also featuring the voices of David Shears, Sarah Bacaller, Ben Stevens, Linda Barrans, Graham Scott, Marty Krz, John Burlinson, Trisha Rose, Lee Ann Howlett, J D Sutter, Lee Ann Howlett, Andy Harrington, Emma Faye, Adam Skousen, Sara Morsey, and Kendra Murray.

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The Online Stage presents The Iliad and The Odyssey by Homer.

The Iliad, set 9 years into the Trojan War, tells the story of the wrath of Achilles. The Odyssey tells the story of Odysseus as he wearily travels home from the war. The two epics provide the basis of Greek education and culture in the classical age. They have long remained among the most significant poems of European tradition. Produced here in full cast arrangement and narrated by Rob Goll, one can experience these age-old stories in a brand new way.

Featuring the voices of Rob Goll, Lance Rasmussen, Josh Innerst, Tyler Hyrchuk, Amanda Friday, Anna Grace, David Stifel, Jeff Moon, John Burlinson, Ted Wenskus, Lee Ann Howlett, Tom Saer, Nik Sliwerski, Marty Krz, Andy Harrington, Trisha Rose, Bob Gonzalez, Sydnee Fullmer, Stephen Indrisano, Lillian Rachel, Tomas Peter, Chris Marcellus, Russell Gold, Merete Mohs, Tim Sailer, Erin Grassie, Linda Barrans, Elizabeth Klett, Grace Keller Scotch, Ron Altman, Max Gallo, Andrew Coleman, Alan Weyman, and Michelle Marie.

This production is based on the prose translation by Samuel Butler.

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By George Du Maurier

Narrated by Linda Barrans

Wildly popular in its day, George du Maurier’s Trilby is set in Paris of the 1850s. The book is funny, romantic and full of glowing characters.

It tells how Trilby, a young figure model, befriends three young British painters.

She is adorable: not beautiful at first sight, but with the world’s most perfect feet. She shocks them all when she tells them casually that she poses for ‘the ensemble’—the altogether.

Too quick to love and trust, she soon loves all three of them—and Little Billee, the youngest and sweetest, returns her affections. It is when he asks her to marry him that the seeds of disaster are sown.

Perhaps the strongest and most complex character in the book is the magnificent pianist Svengali—menacing and comic, witty, sardonic, and cowardly. He falls passionately for Trilby—despite her clownishly poor singing—and pursues her…

All music included in this production is in the public domain.

Recording (1915) of Ben Bolt by soprano Frieda Hempel.

Theme from Rosamunde by Franz Schubert performed by Marty Krz.

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The Witch of Atlas

By Percy Bysshe Shelley

Narrated by Denis Daly and Linda Barrans

The Witch of Atlas is a poetic narrative, written in 1820 and published posthumously in 1824. 

The witch is the daughter of the Pleiades, the seven daughters of Atlas and Pleione. The plot is built around her adventures, during which she creates an androgynous creature, Hermaphroditus, who is both the companion of and the servant to the witch. She plays a series of pranks upon mankind, with the ultimate aim of revealing the essential foolishness of oppression and conflict and enabling the realization of a final Utopia.

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Queen Marguerite de Navarre (April 11, 1491-December 21, 1549) was one of the most powerful women of her age, having helped to negotiate the Treaty of Cambrai, known as the Ladies’ Peace. She was the wife of both Charles IV, duke of Alençon, and Henry II of Navarre, and the grandmother of King Henry IV of France.

Her masterpiece, The Heptameron, is a collection of some 72 stories told by five gentlemen and five ladies who find themselves stranded in an abbey. Proposed as an edifying way of passing the time while a bridge is being repaired, the tale-telling – as well as the conversations that follow each story – quickly becomes a battle of wits between the sexes, with tales concerning illicit lovers, romantic conquests, lecherous monks, manly honor (and their opposite), and women’s virtue (and their opposite). The stories include intimate details of adultery, flattery, betrayal, rape, and war, and their candor may startle even 21st-century listeners.

This is a full-cast production, narrated by Cate Barratt and featuring the voices of Linda Barrans, John Burlinson, Mark Crowle-Groves, Denis Daly, Susan Iannucci, Grace Keller Scotch, Jeff Moon, Sara Morsey, Kendra Murray, and Graham Scott.

Audio edited by John Burlinson.

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The Online Stage presents The Green Cockatoo by Arthur Schnitzler.

The Green Cockatoo is a short play set in a busy tavern on the night of the storming of the Bastille. Rich Parisian nobles come to watch some actors play at being rogues, thieves, and other criminals, but they quickly find reality and fantasy blending together in the most alarming of ways.

Cast:

Stage Directions – Linda Barrans

Prosper – Phil Benson

Emile – Tomas Peter

François – Tom Saer

Albin – Mark Crowle-Groves

Marquis de Lansac – Alan Weyman

Severine – Sarah Mitchell

Rollin – Lance Rasmussen

Grasset – David Prickett

Lebret – Peter Tucker

Grain – Blythe Melin

The Commissaire of Police – Craig Franklin

Henri – Andy Harrington

Leocadie – P. J. Morgan

Scaevola – David Stifel

Jules – Andrew Coleman

Michette –  Anna Grace

Flipotte – Amanda Friday

Guillaume – Graham Scott

Georgette – Leanne Yau

Balthasar – Ted Wenskus

Maurice –  Noel Badrian

Etienne – Marty Krz

Audio edited by Anna Grace

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Performed by The Online Stage

This play is a fictionalized account of the life of William Shakespeare, beginning from his humble origins in Stratford-upon-Avon with his wife, Anne Hathaway, to his life as a successful playwright in London. This play uses several biographical speculations about Shakespeare’s life to tell a fascinating tale, such as his relationship with his wife (to whom he famously left his “second-best bed” in his will), his friendship with fellow playwright and competitor Christopher Marlowe, his interactions with Queen Elizabeth I, and even an extramarital dalliance with the queen’s maid of honor, the two-timing temptress Mary Fitton (who is speculated to be the “Dark Lady” to whom Shakespeare refers in his sonnets).

Clemence Dane is the nom de plume of Winifred Ashton, an English novelist, and playwright, who is best known for her novel Regiment of Women and once won an Academy Award for best story.

Cast:

Narrator – Anna Grace

William Shakespeare – Tom Saer

Anne Hathaway – Grace Garrett

Christopher Marlowe – Andy Harrington

Mary Fitton – Leanne Yau

Queen Elizabeth – Linda Barrans

Mrs. Hathaway – Sarah Mitchell

Henslowe – Alan Weyman

Child – Becca Maggie

Landlord – Graham Scott

Hawker – Craig Franklin

Drinking Man – Mark Crowle-Groves

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Exiles by James Joyce

Presented by The Online Stage

Exiles is the only play written by James Joyce. It draws material from “The Dead”, the final story in his famous short stories collection, Dubliners. It centers around four individuals – Richard, Robert, Bertha, and Beatrice – and the complex romantic entanglements between them as tensions rise and relationships are tested.

Cast:

Richard Rowan – Lance Rasmussen

Berta – Jo Palfi

Beatrice Justice – Elizabeth Klett

Robert Hand – Graham Scott

Brigid/Fisherwoman – Linda Barrans

Stage Directions/Archie – Leanne Yau

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