COMPLETE[PLAY]The Thebaid by Racine - thw

[ToddHW]

The Thebaid, or The Brothers at War by Jean Racine (1639 - 1699). Translated by Robert Bruce Boswell (1864 - 1933)

"The reign of Louis XIV. in France, like the age of Pericles at ancient Athens, was remarkable for literary excellence no less than for military achievements. Like Euripides, Racine confined himself almost exclusively to tragedy.... It was under Molière's friendly auspices that Racine's first published play, "La Thébaïde," was put upon the stage ... at the Palais Royale, Molière's own theater." The story, very much the opposite of a Moliere farce, describes the battle between the brothers Eteocles and Polynices, and being a proper tragedy does not end well for anyone.
( Translator and ToddHW)

This project is complete. Audio files may be found on our catalog page at https://librivox.org/the-thebaid-or-the-brothers-at-war-by-jean-racine/

As we run out of Moliere plays, let us move across the strongly drawn dividing line in French/Classical theater that said comedy and tragedy must never co-mingle to the works of Racine. If your character survives the play it may only be by mistake...

Gender neutral, of course. Kitty will play Jocasta, the mother of the two princes that, er, don't get along very well with each other. She may take out her exasperation with them on you as your DPL, so don't mess up!

• 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.
  3. New to recording?
     Please read our Newbie Guide to Recording!
  4. Where do I find the text? Source text (please only read from this text!): https://archive.org/details/dramaticworksje01boswgoog/page/n23/mode/2up
  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.
     
     If this is your first recording, please let me know under which name or pseudonym you'd like to appear in the LibriVox catalogue. We can also link to a personal website/blog.
     
     
     
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     Magic Window:

     
     
     BC Admin
     ===========================================
     This paragraph is temporary and will be replaced by the MC with the list of sections and reader (Magic Window) once this project is in the admin system.
     
     • Project Code: J50qkxuA
     • Link to author on Wikipedia (if available): (Jean Racine) : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jean_Racine
     • Link to title on Wikipedia (if available): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/La_Thébaïde
     • Number of sections (files) this project will have: 38
     • Does the project have an introduction or preface [y/n]: No
     • Original publication date (if known): 1664
       ============================================
       
       Genres for the project: Plays/Drama/Tragedy
       
       Keywords that describe the book: Thebes
       
       ============================================
     • BEFORE recording: Please check the Recording Notes: viewtopic.php?p=6430#p6430
       
       Set your recording software to:
       Channels: 1 (Mono)
       Bit Rate: 128 kbps
       Sample Rate: 44.1 kHz
       
       Submit one file per act.
     • 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 Thebaid, or The Brothers at War, by Jean Racine. Translated by Robert Bruce Boswell. 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 [#].
       
       Please remember to check this thread frequently for updates!
     • AFTER recording
       Save files as 128 kbps MP3
       thebaid_[role]_[#]_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.
       • Upload your file with the LibriVox Uploader: https://librivox.org/login/uploader
         (If you have trouble reading the image above, please message an admin)
       • You'll need to select the MC, which for this project is: toddhw
       • When your upload is complete, you will receive a link - please post it in this thread.
       • If this doesn't work, or you have questions, please check our How To Send Your Recording wiki page.
       
       Any questions?
       Please post below
     Thanks, Todd

[Kitty]

yay, you are launching Racine getting this on my DPL list of course. And Jocasta !!!

Now let's all prepare to be very dramatic and gloomy. Oh and I think it won't be much of a spoiler to say that nobody survives this play (at least not the main characters)

Todd: do you know that you are playing my son AND grandson this time (it's all very complicated ) I feel old now...

Sonia

[ToddHW]

Don't expect sparkling back-and-forth repartee here - there are long speeches and proclamations throughout. Classical statues come to life, as it were. Please try to fill your words with emotion, cuz there is very little action to round things out.

(On the plus side, the stage directions are almost non-existent - they basically just say who is on stage for each scene. Oh, and "He dies" or words to that effect every now and then....)

Thanks, Todd

[alanmapstone]

Can I read Polynices?

Like Sonia I am a big fan of Racine. Great that you are doing this

[Kitty]

Can I read Polynices?

Like Sonia I am a big fan of Racine. Great that you are doing this

thanks for the support with Racine, Alan some people think me crazy that I like this

Although I must admit, the English translation doesn't do the original justice. He should have done the verses in rhyme. He doesn't reach the mastery of Racine.

And now I see both you and Todd are my sons (and grandsons)

Sonia

[ToddHW]

Yes, Mom. Whatever you say, Mom. (Unless you get in my way, Mom.)

[alanmapstone]

Like Sonia I am a big fan of Racine. Great that you are doing this

thanks for the support with Racine, Alan some people think me crazy that I like this
Although I must admit, the English translation doesn't do the original justice. He should have done the verses in rhyme. He doesn't reach the mastery of Racine.

The problem with translating Racine is that he uses Alexandrines which have no proper equivalent in English verse. If translated into rhyming couplets it tends to sound comic rather than tragic, which is ok for Moliere but not Racine. English Tragic verse drama traditionally used blank verse iambic pentameter which I think is what the translator is trying to use here.

[adrianstephens]

My little feline friend suggests that Creon would suit my sensitive and compassionate nature.
I'm looking forward to this, full of roses and romance.

[ToddHW]

Thank you.

Roses and Romance? Ha. More like Treachery and Deceit.

Todd

[MichaelMaggs]

If you need somebody to read the almost non-existent stage directions I could do it. But only because the introduction contains the wonderful note that Racine “apologises for the wholesale slaughter of nearly all its characters”.

Just to give me something to do, would you like me to read the character names that appear as a sort of heading immediately after the title of each scene?

[ToddHW]

If you need somebody to read the almost non-existent stage directions I could do it. But only because the introduction contains the wonderful note that Racine “apologises for the wholesale slaughter of nearly all its characters”.

Just to give me something to do, would you like me to read the character names that appear as a sort of heading immediately after the title of each scene?

Thank you, and yes, do read the character names for each scene. That has been the practice in the Moliere plays as well.

Todd

[WiltedScribe]

I'll ask for a smaller role while I catch up with my older claims, so may I take Hemon?

[ToddHW]

Thank you.

Todd

[adrianstephens]

Here you are:

Creon
Act 1 @ 3:48 https://librivox.org/uploads/toddhw/thebaid_creon_1_128kb.mp3
Act 3 @ 6:56 https://librivox.org/uploads/toddhw/thebaid_creon_3_128kb.mp3
Act 4 @ 1:30 https://librivox.org/uploads/toddhw/thebaid_creon_4_128kb.mp3
Act 5 @ 10:49 https://librivox.org/uploads/toddhw/thebaid_creon_5_128kb.mp3

I struggled to find his sensitive side. But I did manage it in Act III scene 4, where I really turned on the water-works.
I then discovered in the next act that this was exactly the outcome he wanted, so had to go back and turn off the water-works and re-record.

[Kitty]

I struggled to find his sensitive side. But I did manage it in Act III scene 4, where I really turned on the water-works.
I then discovered in the next act that this was exactly the outcome he wanted, so had to go back and turn off the water-works and re-record.

that's why I pays to read the whole thing first no nasty surprises. Well you knew Creon would not be the gentle uncle and loving father to all the kiddies, right ? But he is quite a piece of scheming manipulator, I must admit.

And wow: I am in awe at your performance, Adrian. You really unleashed the tragedian in you. Creon had huge soliloquies which are not easy to pull, but you managed them all with exquisite expressiveness without drifting into over-doing it on the pathos. And you have a wonderful dying scene right at the end. Really enjoyed the performance.

And I'm happy to hear that the English blank verse does work well after all. The translator did a good job.

I only have a couple of notes for Act 1, the others are all PL ok

> for the voice credit, please always give the full description as in the MW: "Creon, their uncle, read by Adrian Stephens"

> at 0:31: (p. 12): "to make the conqueror seek ignoble flight" – I can only hear "noble" which is the exact opposite

Great job. Thank you so much, Adrian. I knew you'd be perfect in the villain's role.

Sonia