The Two Noble Kinsmen
William Shakespeare
Read by LibriVox Volunteers
The Two Noble Kinsmen is a Jacobean tragicomedy co-written by William Shakespeare and John Fletcher, first published in 1634. Set in ancient Greece during a war between Athens and Thebes, the narrative follows the title characters, Palamon and Arcite, noble youths whose friendship is destroyed by their mutual love for the beautiful Emilia. The subplot deals with the love and eventual madness of the Gaoler's Daughter, who falls hopelessly in love with Palamon. The play is based on "The Knight's Tale" by Chaucer, but also has echoes of Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream, as two of the major characters are Theseus and Hippolyta, who also appear in the earlier play. (Summary by Elizabeth Klett)
Cast
Narrator/Gaoler's Daughter: Elizabeth Klett
First Queen/Nell: Arielle Lipshaw
Second Queen/Waiting-woman: Beth Thomas
Third Queen/Taborer: Charlotte Duckett
Theseus: Bruce Pirie
Hippolyta: Libby Gohn
Emilia: Amanda Friday
Pirithous: Todd
Palamon: David Nicol
Arcite: mb
Valerius/Bavian/First Friend: Patti Cunningham
Herald/Messenger: tovarisch
Gaoler: Algy Pug
Wooer: Eden Rea-Hedrick
First Countryman/Gentleman/Doctor: bala
Third Countryman/Gaoler's Brother/Servant/Third Knight: Brett W. Downey
Fourth Countryman/First Knight: Anna Simon
Gerrold/Second Knight: Alan Mapstone
Audio edited by Elizabeth Klett (2 hr 46 min)
Chapters
| Prologue and Act 1 | 31:34 | Read by LibriVox Volunteers |
| Act 2 | 32:28 | Read by LibriVox Volunteers |
| Act 3 | 44:07 | Read by LibriVox Volunteers |
| Act 4 | 22:58 | Read by LibriVox Volunteers |
| Act 5/Epilogue | 35:29 | Read by LibriVox Volunteers |