Episodes

  • Big Lake, A Tragedy in Two Parts-Lynn Riggs

    Big Lake, A Tragedy in Two Parts-Lynn Riggs
    Aug 22 2026
    Esther — the first of Racine's two sacred dramas — is a tragedy in the Aristotelian acceptation of the term, as being concerned with a great and noble action, and calculated to excite generous pity and fear, though the denouement is a happy one for the heroine and her compatriots. It was composed by Racine when he was in his fiftieth year, and acted at the Maison de Saint Cyr in 1689. The incidents are in strict accordance with the Biblical narrative. In " Esther " Racine for the first time introduces a Chorus, as in the ancient Greek drama, whose songs set to music by Moreau gratefully relieved the monotony of the somewhat stilted dialogue. The unity of place is, moreover, observed less rigidly than usual, a change of scene (though still within the limits of the royal palace) accompanying the rise of the curtain for each of the three Acts. (Summary by the translator) Cast List Prologue(Piety): Alan Mapstone Esther(Queen of Persia): ShrimpPhish Ahasuerus(King of Persia): Algy Pug Mordecai: Alan Mapstone Haman: Papa Phish Zeresh: Inkell Hydaspes: Greg Giordano Asaph: Beeswaxcandle Elizabeth: Sonali Ekka A Jewish Maiden: Agnes Robert Behr Another Maiden: Inkell Another Maiden: Jessie Percival Youngest Maiden: Rapunzelina Stage Directions: Larry Wilson
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    1 hr and 24 mins
  • Belshazzar-Georg Friedrich Händel, Charles Jennens

    Belshazzar-Georg Friedrich Händel, Charles Jennens
    Aug 21 2026
    Esther — the first of Racine's two sacred dramas — is a tragedy in the Aristotelian acceptation of the term, as being concerned with a great and noble action, and calculated to excite generous pity and fear, though the denouement is a happy one for the heroine and her compatriots. It was composed by Racine when he was in his fiftieth year, and acted at the Maison de Saint Cyr in 1689. The incidents are in strict accordance with the Biblical narrative. In " Esther " Racine for the first time introduces a Chorus, as in the ancient Greek drama, whose songs set to music by Moreau gratefully relieved the monotony of the somewhat stilted dialogue. The unity of place is, moreover, observed less rigidly than usual, a change of scene (though still within the limits of the royal palace) accompanying the rise of the curtain for each of the three Acts. (Summary by the translator) Cast List Prologue(Piety): Alan Mapstone Esther(Queen of Persia): ShrimpPhish Ahasuerus(King of Persia): Algy Pug Mordecai: Alan Mapstone Haman: Papa Phish Zeresh: Inkell Hydaspes: Greg Giordano Asaph: Beeswaxcandle Elizabeth: Sonali Ekka A Jewish Maiden: Agnes Robert Behr Another Maiden: Inkell Another Maiden: Jessie Percival Youngest Maiden: Rapunzelina Stage Directions: Larry Wilson
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    56 mins
  • Old Scrooge-Charles Augustus Scott

    Old Scrooge-Charles Augustus Scott
    Aug 20 2026
    Esther — the first of Racine's two sacred dramas — is a tragedy in the Aristotelian acceptation of the term, as being concerned with a great and noble action, and calculated to excite generous pity and fear, though the denouement is a happy one for the heroine and her compatriots. It was composed by Racine when he was in his fiftieth year, and acted at the Maison de Saint Cyr in 1689. The incidents are in strict accordance with the Biblical narrative. In " Esther " Racine for the first time introduces a Chorus, as in the ancient Greek drama, whose songs set to music by Moreau gratefully relieved the monotony of the somewhat stilted dialogue. The unity of place is, moreover, observed less rigidly than usual, a change of scene (though still within the limits of the royal palace) accompanying the rise of the curtain for each of the three Acts. (Summary by the translator) Cast List Prologue(Piety): Alan Mapstone Esther(Queen of Persia): ShrimpPhish Ahasuerus(King of Persia): Algy Pug Mordecai: Alan Mapstone Haman: Papa Phish Zeresh: Inkell Hydaspes: Greg Giordano Asaph: Beeswaxcandle Elizabeth: Sonali Ekka A Jewish Maiden: Agnes Robert Behr Another Maiden: Inkell Another Maiden: Jessie Percival Youngest Maiden: Rapunzelina Stage Directions: Larry Wilson
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    1 hr and 39 mins
  • Purgatory of St. Patrick-Pedro Calderón de la Barca

    Purgatory of St. Patrick-Pedro Calderón de la Barca
    Aug 20 2026
    Esther — the first of Racine's two sacred dramas — is a tragedy in the Aristotelian acceptation of the term, as being concerned with a great and noble action, and calculated to excite generous pity and fear, though the denouement is a happy one for the heroine and her compatriots. It was composed by Racine when he was in his fiftieth year, and acted at the Maison de Saint Cyr in 1689. The incidents are in strict accordance with the Biblical narrative. In " Esther " Racine for the first time introduces a Chorus, as in the ancient Greek drama, whose songs set to music by Moreau gratefully relieved the monotony of the somewhat stilted dialogue. The unity of place is, moreover, observed less rigidly than usual, a change of scene (though still within the limits of the royal palace) accompanying the rise of the curtain for each of the three Acts. (Summary by the translator) Cast List Prologue(Piety): Alan Mapstone Esther(Queen of Persia): ShrimpPhish Ahasuerus(King of Persia): Algy Pug Mordecai: Alan Mapstone Haman: Papa Phish Zeresh: Inkell Hydaspes: Greg Giordano Asaph: Beeswaxcandle Elizabeth: Sonali Ekka A Jewish Maiden: Agnes Robert Behr Another Maiden: Inkell Another Maiden: Jessie Percival Youngest Maiden: Rapunzelina Stage Directions: Larry Wilson
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    2 hrs and 52 mins
  • Frailty and Hypocrisy (Figaro Trilogy #3)-Pierre Beaumarchais

    Frailty and Hypocrisy (Figaro Trilogy #3)-Pierre Beaumarchais
    Aug 18 2026
    Esther — the first of Racine's two sacred dramas — is a tragedy in the Aristotelian acceptation of the term, as being concerned with a great and noble action, and calculated to excite generous pity and fear, though the denouement is a happy one for the heroine and her compatriots. It was composed by Racine when he was in his fiftieth year, and acted at the Maison de Saint Cyr in 1689. The incidents are in strict accordance with the Biblical narrative. In " Esther " Racine for the first time introduces a Chorus, as in the ancient Greek drama, whose songs set to music by Moreau gratefully relieved the monotony of the somewhat stilted dialogue. The unity of place is, moreover, observed less rigidly than usual, a change of scene (though still within the limits of the royal palace) accompanying the rise of the curtain for each of the three Acts. (Summary by the translator) Cast List Prologue(Piety): Alan Mapstone Esther(Queen of Persia): ShrimpPhish Ahasuerus(King of Persia): Algy Pug Mordecai: Alan Mapstone Haman: Papa Phish Zeresh: Inkell Hydaspes: Greg Giordano Asaph: Beeswaxcandle Elizabeth: Sonali Ekka A Jewish Maiden: Agnes Robert Behr Another Maiden: Inkell Another Maiden: Jessie Percival Youngest Maiden: Rapunzelina Stage Directions: Larry Wilson
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    2 hrs and 8 mins
  • Antony and Cleopatra-William Shakespeare

    Antony and Cleopatra-William Shakespeare
    Aug 17 2026
    Esther — the first of Racine's two sacred dramas — is a tragedy in the Aristotelian acceptation of the term, as being concerned with a great and noble action, and calculated to excite generous pity and fear, though the denouement is a happy one for the heroine and her compatriots. It was composed by Racine when he was in his fiftieth year, and acted at the Maison de Saint Cyr in 1689. The incidents are in strict accordance with the Biblical narrative. In " Esther " Racine for the first time introduces a Chorus, as in the ancient Greek drama, whose songs set to music by Moreau gratefully relieved the monotony of the somewhat stilted dialogue. The unity of place is, moreover, observed less rigidly than usual, a change of scene (though still within the limits of the royal palace) accompanying the rise of the curtain for each of the three Acts. (Summary by the translator) Cast List Prologue(Piety): Alan Mapstone Esther(Queen of Persia): ShrimpPhish Ahasuerus(King of Persia): Algy Pug Mordecai: Alan Mapstone Haman: Papa Phish Zeresh: Inkell Hydaspes: Greg Giordano Asaph: Beeswaxcandle Elizabeth: Sonali Ekka A Jewish Maiden: Agnes Robert Behr Another Maiden: Inkell Another Maiden: Jessie Percival Youngest Maiden: Rapunzelina Stage Directions: Larry Wilson
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    3 hrs and 4 mins
  • Lucian's Dialogues Volume 1 The Dialogues of the Gods-Lucian of Samosata

    Lucian's Dialogues Volume 1 The Dialogues of the Gods-Lucian of Samosata
    Aug 16 2026
    Esther — the first of Racine's two sacred dramas — is a tragedy in the Aristotelian acceptation of the term, as being concerned with a great and noble action, and calculated to excite generous pity and fear, though the denouement is a happy one for the heroine and her compatriots. It was composed by Racine when he was in his fiftieth year, and acted at the Maison de Saint Cyr in 1689. The incidents are in strict accordance with the Biblical narrative. In " Esther " Racine for the first time introduces a Chorus, as in the ancient Greek drama, whose songs set to music by Moreau gratefully relieved the monotony of the somewhat stilted dialogue. The unity of place is, moreover, observed less rigidly than usual, a change of scene (though still within the limits of the royal palace) accompanying the rise of the curtain for each of the three Acts. (Summary by the translator) Cast List Prologue(Piety): Alan Mapstone Esther(Queen of Persia): ShrimpPhish Ahasuerus(King of Persia): Algy Pug Mordecai: Alan Mapstone Haman: Papa Phish Zeresh: Inkell Hydaspes: Greg Giordano Asaph: Beeswaxcandle Elizabeth: Sonali Ekka A Jewish Maiden: Agnes Robert Behr Another Maiden: Inkell Another Maiden: Jessie Percival Youngest Maiden: Rapunzelina Stage Directions: Larry Wilson
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    2 hrs and 39 mins
  • Troades-Lucius Annaeus Seneca

    Troades-Lucius Annaeus Seneca
    Aug 4 2026
    "Troades" by Lucius Annaeus Seneca delves into the aftermath of the Trojan War, exploring the themes of loss, fate, and the human condition. This poignant work captures the emotional turmoil faced by those left behind, reflecting on the consequences of conflict and the enduring pain of separation. Its exploration of despair and resilience resonates deeply in today's world, where the impacts of war and personal loss continue to affect countless lives. Seneca's timeless insights into suffering and the search for meaning make "Troades" a powerful reminder of the fragility of human existence and the strength found in enduring hardship.
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    1 hr and 41 mins