Masque of the Red Death (radio)

“Masque of the Red Death” is a radio program from the American radio anthology series Radio Tales. The anthology series adapted classic works of American and world literature for the radio. The series was a recipient of numerous awards, including four Gracie Allen Awards from the Foundation of American Women in Radio and Television (in 2004, [ [http://www.awrt.org/press-releases/2004/Press_Release_%20Announce_Winners.pdf "AWRT Press Release"] AWRT.org. Accessed March 21, 2008.] 2003, [ [http://www.npr.org/about/press/030402.gracie.html "NPR Productions Win Gracie Allen Awards"] NPR.org. Accessed March 21, 2008.] 2001, [ [http://web.archive.org/web/20011126020253/www.awrt.org/awards/2000GracieWinners.html "2001 Gracie Allen Award Winners"] AWRT.org, as indexed by the Internet Archive at Archive.org. Accessed March 21, 2008.] and 1998), a New York Festivals WorldMedal, [ [http://web.archive.org/web/20050207122048/http://www.newyorkfestivals.com/res/pdf/2004RPwinners.pdf "2004 Winners, Radio Programming and Promotion, New York Festivals"] NewYorkFestivals.com, as indexed by the Internet Archive at Archive.org. Accessed March 21, 2008.] and a Golden Reel Merit Award. [ [http://web.archive.org/web/20010802161539/www.nfcb.org/2001reelsinfo.html "NFCB Announces 2001 Golden Reel Award Winners"] NFCB.org, as indexed by the Internet Archive at Archive.org. Accessed March 21, 2008.] The "Masque of the Red Death" program from the Radio Tales series was an adaptation of the classic short story Masque of the Red Death by Edgar Allan Poe.

Broadcast History

The Radio Tales production of “Masque of the Red Death” was the first program from the series broadcast via National Public Radio. The program was first broadcast via NPR on October 29th, 1996 [National Public Radio: "NPR Marketing Monthly Edition Program Information for October 1996". NPR Marketing] . The program encompassed one half-hour installment that was distributed to NPR member stations as part of the NPR Playhouse cultural series. The “Masque of the Red Death” program from the Radio Tales series has enjoyed the most re-broadcasts on NPR of any Radio Tales program, including a Halloween broadcast on October 31, 1997 as part of NPR’s “Tales for a Darkened Room” special [National Public Radio: "NPR Quarterly Edition Fall 1997". NPR Marketing, Vol. III, No. IV] . Since November 28th, 2002, the entire Radio Tales series has aired in reruns on the Sonic Theater channel (163) of the XM Satellite Radio service [ [http://www.xmradio.com/onxm/features/sonictheater.xmc "Sonic Theater"] XMRadio.com. Accessed May 22, 2008.] . The “Masque of the Red Death” program debuted on XM Satellite Radio on February 22, 2003.

Production Information

The program was produced and script edited by series producer Winnie Waldron, who also served as the on-air host [ [http://www.winifredphillips.com/wp_bio.html "Winifred Phillips Official Site: Biography"] Winifredphillips.com. Accessed May 19, 2008.] . Composer Winifred Phillips created over twenty-eight minutes of music for the program, and also performed as the featured actress [ [http://www.mninter.net/~jstearns/nprPH.html#top "NPR Playhouse - January - March, 2001"] MNinter.net. Accessed March 21, 2008.] . “Masque of the Red Death” was part of the first year of Radio Tales on NPR Playhouse [National Public Radio: "NPR Quarterly Edition Fall 1997". NPR Marketing, Vol. III, No. IV] .

Media

The Radio Tales production of “Masque of the Red Death” was published on audiocassette by Durkin Hayes Publishing Ltd in 1996 as a part of its “Paperback Audio” line (ISBN 0886468949) [ [http://www.sffaudio.com/?cat=251 "SFFaudio >> Edgar Allan Poe"] SFFAudio.com. Accessed July 17, 2008.] , to coincide with the broadcast premiere of the program via National Public Radio. In 1998, Durkin Hayes re-released the program on audiocassette with new packaging and cover art as a part of its new “dh Audio” imprint [ [http://www.amazon.com/Masque-Red-Death-Generations-Presents/dp/0886468949/ref=sr_1_7?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1216308591&sr=1-7 "Amazon.com: The Masque of the Red Death"] Amazon.com. Accessed July 17, 2008.] . Since that time, the program has been available in numerous formats and venues, including burn-on-demand CDs manufactured and distributed by MP3.com [ [http://web.archive.org/web/20031129193548/artists.mp3s.com/artists/33/npr_radio_tales.html "MP3.com: Radio Tales"] MP3.com, as indexed by the Internet Archive at Archive.org. Accessed July 15, 2008.] and Ampcast.com [ [http://web.archive.org/web/20060212003627/http://www.ampcast.com/music/25229/artist.php "Ampcast.com: Radio Tales"] Ampcast.com, as indexed by the Internet Archive at Archive.org. Accessed July 15, 2008.] . Beginning in 2005, programs from the series, including the “Masque of the Red Death” program, have been available for download via the Audioville.co.uk web site [ [http://www.audioville.co.uk/store/view_productcategory.php?Id=59 "audioVille | Stor>>Fiction | Radio Tales | Download Audio Books, Podcasts and more in MP3. Comedy, Fiction, sport, news, science, drama."] Audioville.co.uk. Accessed May 24, 2008.] .

Critical Reception

The “Masque of the Red Death” program from the Radio Tales series has received favorable reviews. In his review of the program for AudioFile Magazine, Benjamin H. Cheever wrote that the program is “a magnificent demonstration of the very best the medium has to offer.” [ [http://www.amazon.com/Masque-Red-Death-Generations-Presents/dp/0886468949/ref=sr_1_7?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1216308591&sr=1-7 "Amazon.com: The Masque of the Red Death"] Amazon.com. Accessed July 17, 2008.] . National Public Radio described the program as “elegantly macabre” [National Public Radio: "NPR Quarterly Edition Fall 1997". NPR Marketing, Vol. III, No. IV] . Writing for Midwest Record Recap, reviewer Chris Spector declared that the Radio Tales production of Edgar Allan Poe's classic story "gives Poe a new kick and makes the classics more welcome!" [Midwest Record Rec
] .

Opening narration

Plot Summary

A virulent pestilence is plaguing the countryside, and no one is safe. But Prince Prospero and a thousand of his friends choose to lock themselves in their castle in order to avoid the sickness. The prince plans and executes an elaborate costume ball for his friends, and somehow the plague itself is able to slip into the party in the form of a masked guest. The presence of the ghastly interloper is recognized too late, for by the time the prince orders the intruder removed from the premises, he has already been touched by the disease. In the end, everyone at the party is stricken and succumbs to the Red Death.

References

External Links

* [http://www.audioville.co.uk/store/view.php?Id=561 Masque of the Red Death page on Audioville.co.uk]
* [http://www.radiotales.com/ The Official Radio Tales® Web Site]
* [http://www.audioville.co.uk/store/view_productcategory.php?Id=59 Radio Tales® Full Catalog on AudioVille]
* [http://www.xmradio.com/onxm/channelpage.xmc?ch=163 XM Satellite Radio's Sonic Theater Channel]