WOC Catalog: Wolfner Owned Cassettes
Classic Radio Plays, Dramatizations and Other Special Items
(Updated September 2004)
Shakespeare's Best
All's Well That Ends Well by William Shakespeare.
WOC 101.
All's Well That Ends Well is one of Shakespeare's most poetic and subtle comedies. When the clever and appealing Helena cures the ailing King of France of an illness, she asks for the hand of Bertram, a proper young Englishman, in return. Her efforts to win Bertram's love are rendered with wit and verve by a distinguished cast. This performance brings to life this surprisingly modern play.
Anthony and Cleopatra by William Shakespeare.
WOC 107.
Mark Anthony was once a calculating politician and a great general. Now he has lost his political judgment. He is an old soldier who loses his identity as a Roman ruler and finds a new identity in Cleopatra's arms. As armies and politicians struggle for power, Cleopatra fights for the heart and soul of Mark Anthony, and wins. This is a classic tale of romantic star-crossed lovers who give up everything to fulfill their immortal longings.
As You Like It by William Shakespeare.
WOC 103.
This rustic comedy is set primarily in the forest of Arden. A duke is exiled by his cruel brother, who later banishes his daughter as well. The action switches from the court to the forest where the exiles and their friends wander in a maze of romances and mixed identities.
Hamlet by William Shakespeare.
WOC 111.
A young prince tries to avenge his father's murder. Hamlet's uncle seduced Hamlet's mother, killed Hamlet's father, and usurped Hamlet's claim to the throne. But Hamlet's own gloomy, indecisive personality keeps him from decisive action and contributes to further misfortune.
Julius Caesar by William Shakespeare.
WOC 115.
Julius Caesar is one of Shakespeare's most popular plays. It is a historical tragedy of the events leading up to the assassination of the famous Roman general. After his victory in Gaul, Caesar was crowned Emperor, but on March 15, 44 BC Caesar's dearest friend, Marcus Brutus, became convinced that it was his patriotic duty to participate in the murder of his old friend.
King Lear by William Shakespeare.
WOC 112.
This tragedy concerns a petulant monarch and his daughters Gonerill, Regan, and Cordelia. Amid much other action, Lear is deceived by false vows of love from Gonerill and Regan, while disinheriting Cordelia because of her refusal to flatter him and to meet his unreasonable demands.
Macbeth by William Shakespeare.
WOC 104.
Three witches stir a prophetic brew as they await the return of the Scottish army. The victorious general Macbeth, spurred on by his ambitious wife, murders Duncan, the king, while he is a guest in Macbeth's castle. Soon the desire for power coupled with mistrust, fear, and anger leads to one violent act after another.
Measure for Measure by William Shakespeare.
WOC 110.
Vincentio, the duke of Vienna, has been negligent about enforcing chastity laws. Fearing protest if he calls for reforms, he appoints Angelo to act as his deputy and pretends to leave town. Disguised as a friar, the duke observes his zealous prosecutor and becomes alarmed by the cruelty of his decisions. He must quickly reassume leadership to clear up entanglements and to save a young gentleman's life.
Merchant of Venice by William Shakespeare.
WOC 108.
Antonio, a merchant of Venice, borrows from Shylock, the Jewish moneylender, to help fund his friend Bassiano's courtship of Portia. But the only thing Shylock will accept as collateral is the pound of flesh closest to Antonio's heart. When Antonio's fleet suffers a catastrophic loss, he is unable to repay the debt. Portia, disguised as a young lawyer, must save Antonio and ruin Shylock's vindictive scheme.
Merry Wives of Windsor by William Shakespeare.
WOC 99.
In this comic drama, Falstaff, a rowdy drunkard, is pinched for funds so he decides to woo the wives of two wealthy citizens of Windsor. Ford and Page, whose wives control all their money, are none the wiser until Nim and Pistol, former friends of Falstaff, warn the husbands of Falstaff's plans.
Midsummer Night's Dream by William Shakespeare.
WOC 106.
When four young lovers, fleeing Athenian law, take to the forest of Athens, their lives become entangled with a feud between the King and Queen of the Fairies. Some Athenian tradesmen, rehearsing a play for the forthcoming wedding of Duke Theseus and his bride, Hippolyta, unintentionally add to the hilarity.
Much Ado about Nothing by William Shakespeare.
WOC 95.
This classic romantic comedy involves two pairs of lovers, Hero and Claudio, and Beatrice and Benedick. Claudio is deceived into thinking Hero is unfaithful to him. He is then manipulated into publicly rejecting her. This disastrous mix-up is made lighter by a witty secondary plot where the friends of battling Beatrice and Benedick trick them into believing that they really love each other, though neither of them seem to be interested. True love wins in the end, making this one of Shakespeare's most loved plays.
Othello by William Shakespeare.
WOC 105.
Othello, a Moor and a general in the army of Venice, has just married Desdemona, the daughter of a Venetian senator. Lago, who bears a grudge against Othello, manipulates others to convince Othello that Desdemona has been unfaithful to him with one of his lieutenants. Othello, in a jealous rage, strangles Desdemona. When Lago's treachery is revealed, he is sentenced to death by torture. Othello, heartbroken and filled with guilt, passes sentence on himself and commits suicide.
Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare.
WOC 109.
The Capulet and Montague families are having a feud. Paris, a kinsman of the Prince, asks for Juliet's hand in marriage, but since she is only thirteen, her father asks him to wait. Meanwhile, Juliet, a Capulet, meets and falls in love with Romeo, a Montague, and the two are secretly married. When her father advances the wedding plans between Juliet and Paris, Juliet and Friar Laurence devise a plan in which Juliet drinks a potion that makes her appear dead. His plan to revive her later backfires and Romeo, ignorant of the plan hears that his beloved Juliet has died. This brings about tragic consequences.
Taming of the Shrew by William Shakespeare.
WOC 102.
This farcical battle of the sexes describes the volatile courtship between the shrewish Katharina and the canny Petruchio, who is determined to subdue Katharina's legendary temper and win her dowry. Read here by Trevor Howard and Margaret Leighton, The Taming of the Shrew is Shakespeare at his rollicking best.
Tempest by William Shakespeare.
WOC 98.
A powerful magician named Prospero lives stranded alone on an island with his daughter, Miranda. When a ship passes close by his island, Prospero summons up a storm and the ship is wrecked near the island. When Ferdinand is washed onto the island alone, he meets and falls in love with Miranda, which was Prospero's secret goal. Ferdinand and Miranda become engaged, and Prospero uses his magic to give them a beautiful wedding pageant.
Twelfth Night by William Shakespeare.
WOC 100.
Twelfth Night is the happiest of Shakespeare's comedies. In this delightful romp of deception and romance, the lovely Viola disguises herself as a young man and then falls in love with the Duke she serves. The Duke in turn sends the disguised Viola to woo his lady, the feisty and impetuous Olivia. Olivia becomes smitten with the young man Viola impersonates, and all careens to a happy resolution by the play's end.
Two Gentlemen of Verona by William Shakespeare.
WOC 97.
In this fast-paced farce, the plot and characters become tangled up in confusion until the grand unraveling in the last scene. Mistaken identities and misfortunes end on a note of joy as lovers are finally paired off.
Winter's Tale by William Shakespeare.
WOC 96.
King Leontes of Sicily is jealous of the attention his queen Hermione appears to give to Polixenes, the visiting King of Bohemia. Certain that Hermione is pregnant with Polixenes's child, Leontes plots to poison Polixenes and imprisons Hermione. When Hermione gives birth to a baby daughter, Leontes orders the baby to be left to perish on a desert shore. Leontes comes to regret his actions and grieves for sixteen years, until his daughter, Perdita, who has been raised by a shepherd, returns to Sicily.