70% stars - 3077 reviews
  • Two Pastorals: an Heroic and a Comic by MOLIèRE | LibriVox's New Releases

    Moliere, on the way to the Ballet of the Muses, a court festival, started to write a new Heroic Pastoral. "He chose for his subject a similar one to the history of Florizel and Perdita in Shakespeare's Winter's Tale…. The charm of his writing, the exquisite delicacy of the sentiment, and the freshness of the pastoral scenes, cause us to regret that Moliere wrote only the first two acts of this play and never finished it." Though it was performed this way in Dec 1666 - so maybe there is enough here to enjoy. The Pastoral Comedy which follows it was performed as part of the Ballet of the Muses in Jan 1667 - "most likely replaced the unfinished Melicerte". We only have a script for a number of the scenes; Moliere supposedly destroyed the rest. - Summary by Translator and ToddHW

    Cast list:
    Melicerte, an Heroic Pastoral
    Myrtil, in love with Melicerte: Adrian Stephens
    Acanthe, in love with Daphne: Dale Burgess
    Tyrene, in love with Eroxene: David Purdy
    Lycarsis, herdsman, supposed father to Myrtil: ToddHW
    Nicandre, shepherd: Alan Mapstone
    Mopse, shepherd, supposed uncle to Melicerte: Andrew Gaunce
    Melicerte, shepherdess: Availle
    Daphne, shepherdess: Kathi M. Walsheck
    Eroxene, shepherdess: Sonia
    Corinne, confidante of Melicerte: WendyKatzHiller
    Stage Directions: Kelly S. Taylor

    A Comic Pastoral
    Lycas, a rich shepherd in love with Iris: Adrian Stephens
    Philene, a rich shepherd in love with Iris: Dale Burgess
    Shepherd: David Purdy
    Magician: Sonia
    Three Magicians: Devorah Allen
    Gypsy: Alan Mapstone
    Stage Directions: ToddHW