COMPLETE Witch of Edmonton by Dekker, et al. -rap

[Tortilla]

The Witch of Edmonton by Thomas Dekker (c.1572 - 1632), John Ford (1586 – c.1639) and William Rowley (c.1585 – 1626).

This project is complete and all audio files can be found in the catalogue: https://librivox.org/the-witch-of-edmonton-by-thomas-dekker/

Mother Elizabeth Sawyer is a destitute, lonely, and unfairly ostracized old woman with nothing left to lose. Frank is a poor farmer who intends to marry his beloved Winnifred, who is pregnant with his child, but is pressured to marry Susan, the rich yeoman's daughter. Young Cuddy Banks is a clown who pines after a girl who doesn't love him. When Mother Sawyer turns to witchcraft after being unjustly accused of it, a talking devil-dog named Tom (performed by a human actor) comes to her aid, becoming her familiar and only friend. Though she intends to get her revenge, little does she know many of those around her are only too willing to sell their souls to the devil all by themselves.

The play was inspired by the real-life story of Elizabeth Sawyer, who was executed for witchcraft on 19 April 1621, and draws heavily on a pamphlet by Henry Goodcole, The wonderful discoveries of Elizabeth Sawyer, Witch (1621). While the pamphlet may be very ready to capitalize on the sensational story of a witch and portray Sawyer as simply a bad woman, the play does not permit an easy and comfortable demonization of her. It presents her as a product of society rather than an anomaly in it. (Mary Kay)

• 1. Is there a deadline?
     We ask that you submit your recorded sections within 1-2 months of placing your claim. Please note that to be fair to the readers who have completed their sections in a timely way, if you haven't submitted your recording(s) after two months, your sections will automatically be re-opened for other readers to claim, unless you post in this thread to request an extension. Extensions will be granted at the discretion of the Book Coordinator. If you cannot do your section, for whatever reason, just let me know and it'll go back to the pool. There's no shame in this; we're all volunteers and things happen.Please do not sign up for more sections than you can complete within the two month deadline.
  2. How to claim a part, and "how it all works" here
     To find a section to record, simply look at point 5. below at the sections. All the ones without names beside them are "up for grabs." Click "Post reply" at the top left of the screen and tell us which section you would like to read (include the section number from the left-most column in the reader list, please). Read points 6. to 8. below for what to do before, during and after your recording.
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  4. Where do I find the text? Source text (please only read from this text!): http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/45357
  5. Please claim roles (the numbers in the first column below)! Please note: All Librivox recordings are in the public domain. When you submit your recording, you will be placing your recording in the public domain as well.
     
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     Magic Window:

     
     
     BC Admin
     ===========================================
     Genres for the project: Plays/Drama/Tragedy
     Keywords that describe the book: drama, play, tragedy, death, murder, marriage, persecution, Elizabethan, jacobean, revenge, witch, witchcraft, devils, polygamy, domestic tragedy, dramedy, souls, familiars, black magic, elizabeth sawyer, old women, devil dog, mind control, affairs, gender studies
     ============================================
  6. BEFORE recording: Please check the Recording Notes: http://librivox.org/forum/viewtopic.php?p=6427#6430
     
     Set your recording software to:
     Channels: 1 (Mono)
     Bit Rate: 128 kbps
     Sample Rate: 44.1 kHz
     
     Submit one file per act.
  7. Make sure you add this to the beginning of your recording:
     [Role], read by [your name].
     
     If you are reading stage directions, please include for each file:At the beginning:
     Act [#] of The Witch of Edmonton, by William Rowley, Thomas Dekker and John Ford . This is a Librivox recording. All Librivox recordings are in the public domain. For more information, or to volunteer, please visit Librivox dot org.
     
     At the end: End of Act [#].
     At the end of the last section (in addition): End of The Witch of Edmonton, by William Rowley, Thomas Dekker and John Ford .
     
     Please remember to check this thread frequently for updates!
  8. AFTER recording
     Save files as 128 kbps MP3
     witchofedmonton_[role]_[#].mp3 (all lower-case) where # is the act number.
     
     Filename for final files: witchofedmonton_#_rowleydekkerford_128kb.mp3 (all lower-case) where # is the act number.
     
     
     Transfer of files (completed recordings) Please always post in this forum thread when you've sent a file. Also, post the length of the recording (file duration: mm:ss) together with the link.
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       (If you have trouble reading the image above, please message an admin)
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     • If this doesn't work, or you have questions, please check our How To Send Your Recording wiki page.

Any questions?
Please post below

[Tortilla]

Hello! I will be editing, but we are looking for a DPL at the moment!

Please take note to upload your lines by Scene, not Act! Thank you!

Important character descriptions:
Sir Arthur Clarington. A wealthy knight and the employer of Frank Thorney and Winifred. He has a secret affair with Winifred, and when she gets pregnant, he pushes Frank to marry her in order to cover his own indiscretion.
Old Thorney. Frank Thorney’s father. He is a gentleman who has mortgaged all of his lands. He pushes his son to marry Susan Carter in order to escape his financial difficulties.
Old Carter. The father of Susan Carter and Katherine Carter. He is a wealthy farmer who uses his daughters’ marriages as means to improve his social status.
Old Banks. The father of Cuddy Banks. He beats Mother Sawyer at the beginning of the play for gathering sticks on his land.
Warbeck. Suitor to Susan Carter. A stuffy scholar. He becomes bitter when Susan chooses Frank Thorney over him.
Somerton. Suitor to Katherine Carter.
Frank Thorney. Old Thorney’s son. He marries Winifred because he thinks she is pregnant with his child, enters into a second bigamous marriage with Susan, murders Susan as he attempts to escape with the dowry money, and is eventually executed for his crimes.
Young Cuddy Banks. Old Banks’ son (the clown). A country yokel and Morris-dancer. He makes friends with the Devil-Dog, but due to his innocence and ignorance, he proves incorruptible.
Old Ratcliffe. The husband of Anne Ratcliffe, a woman who is driven insane by the Devil-Dog at Mother Sawyer’s behest.
Justice. The local Justice of the Peace. He passes judgment on Frank Thorney and Mother Sawyer at the end of the play.
Dog. A devil or spirit who has assumed the form of a black dog. Sometimes called ‘Tom’. He performs mischievous acts for Mother Sawyer after she promises her soul to him. He can only be seen by Mother Sawyer and Cuddy Banks.
Mother Sawyer (Elizabeth Sawyer). The ‘witch’ of Edmonton. At the beginning of the play, she is merely a poor old decrepit woman, but she makes a deal with a devil to get revenge on her neighbors when they treat her poorly and accuse her of using witchcraft to spoil their crops and kill their livestock.
Anne Ratcliffe. Old Ratcliffe’s wife. At Mother Sawyer’s bequest, the Devil-Dog drives her insane and causes her to beat her own brains out.
Susan Carter. Old Carter’s eldest daughter. She chooses to marry Frank Thorney rather than Warbeck. Frank murders her when she tries to follow him as he escapes with the dowry money.
Katherine Carter. Old Carter’s younger daughter. She is wooed by and agrees to marry Somerton. While nursing Frank back to health, she finds the bloody knife he used to murder her sister Susan, thereby revealing Frank’s guilt.
Winifred. Sir Arthur Clarington’s maid and Frank Thorney’s first wife. Sir Arthur gets her pregnant and offers Frank money to marry her. When Frank flees after his second marriage, she travels with him disguised as his boy-servant.

I would suggest you reading this short summary of the play too: http://www.rsc.org.uk/whats-on/the-witch-of-edmonton/synopsis.aspx

Prologue, Dramatis Personae and Act I
Act II
Act III
Act IV
Act V

Dramatis Personae:

Major Male Parts:
Sir Arthur Clarington (1.1, 3.4, 4.1, 5.2)
Old Thorney (1.2, 3.3, 5.2)
Carter (1.2, 2.2, 3.3, 4.1, 5.2)
Warbeck (1.2, 2.2, 3.3, 4.1, 5.2)
Somerton (1.2, 2.2, 3.3, 4.1, 5.2)
Frank (1.1, 1.2, 2.2, 3.2, 3.3, 4.1, 5.2)
Old Banks (2.1, 4.1, 5.2)
Cuddy Banks (2.1, 3.1, 3.4, 5.1)
Dog, aka Tom (2.1, 3.1, 3.3, 4.1, 5.1)

Major Female Roles:
Mother Elizabeth Sawyer (2.1, 4.1, 5.1, 5.2)
Anne (4.1)
Susan (1.2, 2.2, 3.2, 3.3)
Katherine (1.2, 4.1, 5.2) - (also read Spirit, 3.1)
Winnifred (1.1, 3.2, 4.1, 5.2)

Minor Roles:
Ratcliffe (4.1)
Hamluc (4.1)
Sawgut (4.1)
First Clown (2.1, 3.1, 3.4)
Second Clown (2.1, 3.1, 3.4)
Third Clown (2.1, 3.1, 3.4 - read all)
Fourth Clown (2.1, 3.1, 3.4 - read all)
First Countryman (4.1, 5.2)
Second Countryman (4.1)
Third Countryman (4.1)
Justice (4.1, 5.2)
Constable (3.4)

Note: Some of these parts will be doubled up!
The following:
Justice / Constable
First Clown / First Countryman
Second Clown / Second Countryman
Third Clown / Third Countryman
Fourth Clown / Sawgut
Old Thorney / Hamluc

You must read both roles!

[Kristingj]

I'm not sure if you're taking claims yet, but I'd love to do mother sawer or Katherine

[Elizabby]

Ooh, interesting play! I'll throw my hat in for whichever part you think my voice would suit. I'm currently a bit scratchy from a cold, so probably an older character rather than a young girl. I'll also do male characters if you are doing gender-neutral casting.

[annise]

Tortilla has said in the first post she wants people to help finish off things for the clean-up month first - so lets just not make any claims till then, otherwise it would not be fair for those who read the first post and comply. I do know you both have been doing that as well .

Anne

[Kristingj]

Tortilla has said in the first post she wants people to help finish off things for the clean-up month first - so lets just not make any claims till then, otherwise it would not be fair for those who read the first post and comply. I do know you both have been doing that as well .

Anne

Oh, shoot, I didn't notice, sorry!

[Rapunzelina]

Hi Mary! Here we are MW is in place and ready for you to fill in!

[Elizabby]

Ta da! It's July!

So I will officially request either Mother Sawyer, or Frank Thorney please. (I can't see anywhere whether this is a gender neutral play or not.)

[Kristingj]

Then I would like to claim either Mother Sawer or Katherine;)

[Newgatenovelist]

I would like to claim Anne, please!
-Erin

[gloriana]

Could I claim Winnifred, please? I'm excited to see this one in the launch pad!

[Tortilla]

Alright, MW is up and roles updated! I am trying a new MW style - let's see if it works!

I assigned Kristingj to Katherine and Elizabby to Mother Sawyer.
Thank you!

[alanmapstone]

May I read Old Banks, I am the right age.

[Tortilla]

MW updated.

[Rapunzelina]

Moved to Dramatic Works!

Would you like me to delete the empty section rows, Mary? or will you need them later?