BBC R3 - Amanda Dalton's 'Caligari'
Adapted from Janowitz & Mayer's 'Das Cabinet des Dr Caligari'
Directed by Susan Roberts
Broadcast October 21, 2008
Coded from tape at 128/44.1
Typical BBC - a radio play adapted from a silent film.
Paranoia in the aftermath of WWI. Mesmerist Dr Caligari and
his somnambulist slave Cesare appear to be responsible for
a series of murders ...
Cast
Franzis - Tom Ferguson
Allan - Luke Treadaway
Frau Beckmann - Eileen O'Brien
Jacob Straat - Peter Hamilton Dyer
Jane - Sarah McDonald Hughes
Dr Olfens - Malcolm Raeburn
The Police Inspector - James Quinn
Town clerk - Terence Mann
Cesare - Robin Blaze
Music
Composed by Olly Fox
Performed by
Kate St John
Genevieve Wilkins
Sarah Homer
David Coulter
.
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Replies
I'm all over it ! Thanks..
Thank you. One of my favorite "who is on the outside looking at who" stories. The film is still incredible after all this time. This sound fun!
It is much fun . ---------------------- Rick
A bit more info:
Full of the darkness and fear that prevailed in post-First World War Germany, The Cabinet Of Dr Caligari is a film about the madness of society, the inner workings of the human mind and the paranoia of a country in the aftermath of a war. Today's Drama On 3 was inspired by the film and uses its narrative as a springboard for original writing and music.
Francis and his friend, Allan, visit a fair in Hebden Bridge, where they encounter Dr Caligari, a showman whose attraction is his fortune-telling somnambulist, Cesare, a damaged wraith-like figure. That night, Jane, the girl that Francis and Allan both love, is abducted by Caligari. During the captivity, Caligari becomes more and more fascinated by Jane and realises he is falling in love with her. He vows to keep her captive but alive, believing that she will start to love him and want to stay with him voluntarily.
Amanda Dalton is a poet and playwright. She has written extensively for BBC Radio 3 and Radio 4 and also writes original drama for theatre. The play has original music by Olly Fox, whose recent credits include Therese Raquin (National Theatre) and A Number (Sheffield Crucible). Olly has previously collaborated with Amanda on Secret Heart (Royal Exchange) and Desire Lines (BBC Radio 4).
Producer/Sue Roberts
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Jeremy Aspinall, RT reviewer: Playwright Amanda Dalton has taken on an ambitious project here: a radio adaptation of The Cabinet of Dr Caligari, the classic silent film renowned for its mindboggling visuals. Set in 1919, it's the story of a travelling magician who hypnotises his exhibit, the pallid somnambulist Cesare ("a black-clad wraith"), to commit murder in a small German town. But it's brought vividly to life thanks to a narration that recalls the movie's unforgettable imagery - the painted paper walls, the off-kilter buildings, the contorted landscape. It's also a lyrical production and features countertenor Robin Blaze as the voice of the deadly sleepwalker.