Heartbreak House


Read by LibriVox Volunteers

(4 stars; 20 reviews)

On the eve of World War I, Ellie Dunn, her father, and her fiancé are invited to one of Hesione Hushabye’s infamous dinner parties. Unfortunately, her fiancé is a scoundrel, her father’s a bumbling prig, and she’s actually in love with Hector, Hesione’s husband. This bold mix of farce and tragedy lampoons British society as it blithely sinks towards disaster. (Summary by Wikipedia)

Cast
Nurse Guinness: Bev J. Stevens
Ellie Dunn: Arielle Lipshaw
Captain Shotover: Bruce Pirie
Lady Ariadne Utterword: Caprisha Page
Hesione Hushabye: Elizabeth Klett
Mazzini Dunn: Leonard Wilson
Hector Hushabye: Bob Neufeld
Boss Mangan: Delmar H. Dolbier
Randall Utterword: mb
The Burglar: Todd
Narrator: Elizabeth Klett

Audio edited by Elizabeth Klett (3 hr 19 min)

Chapters

Act 1 1:18:28 Read by LibriVox Volunteers
Act 2, Part 1 40:42 Read by Arielle Lipshaw
Act 2, Part 2 43:02 Read by Elizabeth Klett
Act 3 37:40 Read by Elizabeth Klett

Reviews

Great Performance for Meh Play


(3 stars)

The recording is wonderful. Everyone really gets into the play and the editing is practically seamless. Such a shame that is just not a great play in the first place. Shaw has definitely done better work. This isn't one of my favorites of Shaw's. It's a good deal more farcical and less witty than I normally associate with Shaw. It's next to impossible to connect with any of the characters because they're such caricatures. I just don't see how this is supposed to be a clever of satire of polite British society. It's certainly a parody, but I'm not sure I'd call it clever overall. It does contain some gems of humor that seem wasted in this play though.

Excellent presentation, thank you.


(5 stars)

I cannot say if this is a good or bad work by Shaw as it's the first one I have listened to, but it entertained me and I will listen to it again for sure. The ensemble does an excellent job and is well cast. The editing is worthy of note with consistent volume and clear sound throughout. Well done everyone!

Librivox's version of the ALL STAR GAME


(5 stars)

no way!!!!! take a bunch of your favourite readers and have them join in a virtual reading of an already hilarious madcap comedy work, and you have a MASTERPIECE!!!! i will be listening to this over and over again!!!! 2 thumbs up!

Thumbs up


(4 stars)

Very interesting play,i totally loved it.Love Shaw's wit. The recording is very good indeed.Thanks to all readers and editors and everyone else involved. (mr.mangan's voice was just a little hard to understand)

Heartbreak House


(4 stars)

This was a fun little play to listen to it was short and and I enjoyed all the characters!

it takes a Heartbreak to continue


(5 stars)

Good voicing - love the acting noises like [breaks into a low sniveling]!!!

Well acted by excellent cast


(5 stars)

Very enjoyable presentation of Shaw's complex play - well edited too - great fun!