Jason and the Argonauts (radio)

“Jason and the Argonauts” is a 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 [Hear Here: "Tales by American Masters". AudioFile Magazine, pg. 8, Feb/March 1999, Vol. 7, No. 5.] ) 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 "Jason and the Argonauts" program from the Radio Tales series was an adaptation of the Hellenistic epic, The Argonautica by Apollonius Rhodius.

Broadcast history

The Radio Tales production of “Jason and the Argonauts” was first broadcast via NPR on September 4, 2001. [National Public Radio: "NPR Quarterly Edition Fall 2001". NPR Marketing, Vol. VII, No. IV] The program encompassed two half-hour installments that were distributed to NPR member stations as part of the NPR Playhouse cultural series. 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 “Jason and the Argonauts” program debuted on XM Satellite Radio on October 11, 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 fifty-six 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.] “Jason and the Argonauts” was part of the sixth year of Radio Tales on NPR Playhouse. [National Public Radio: "NPR Quarterly Edition Fall 2001". NPR Marketing, Vol. VII, No. IV]

Media

The Radio Tales production of “Jason and the Argonauts” 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 “Jason and the Argonauts” program, have been available for download via the Audioville.co.uk web site. [ [http://www.audioville.com/store/view.php?Id=535&ProductCategoryId=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.]

Opening narration

Plot summary

The story opens with King Pelias confronted by his newly-discovered nephew Jason, who is the rightful heir to the throne that Pelias now holds. To get rid of this nuisance, Pelias tells Jason that if he is able to obtain the legendary Golden Fleece, then Pelias will happily turn over the throne to him (although Pelias is secretly convinced that Jason will simply be killed on the journey). Jason agrees, prepares a sailing vessel known as the ‘Argo’, assembles a crew (hereafter known as Argonauts) and sets off on the journey.

Their first obstacle is an enchanted strait with cliff-like walls that slam together and recede at regular intervals. Rowing for their lives, the Argonauts make it through the strait. Thereafter they turn their ship into a broad river and follow the course of the river until they reach a city of gold, which is the fabled home of the Golden Fleece. Jason goes by himself into the city (in order to request an audience with the king and barter for the Fleece). On the way, he encounters Medea, one of the king’s daughters, who is immediately smitten with Jason. She brings him to her father the king, and Jason offers the strength of the mighty Argonauts, with Jason himself in command, ready to turn their swords to any conflict that the king might name, in exchange for the Golden Fleece.

The king, however, would sooner see Jason dead than give up the Fleece, so he proposes a test to prove Jason’s worthiness. First, Jason must go down to the plain of Ares and yoke a pair of fire-breathing giant bulls. Then, Jason must use the yoked bulls to plow the field and plant a supply of dragon’s teeth (which the king will provide him). Once planted, the dragon’s teeth will turn into fully-armored warriors which will spring up from the ground and attack him. If Jason can kill them all, then he will have the king’s blessing to take the Fleece.

Jason agrees, but grimly – he fully expects to be killed in attempting to accomplish these tasks. What he doesn’t realize is that he now has a very powerful ally. Medea, in addition to being the king’s daughter, is an extremely skillful enchantress. After the king takes his leave, Medea tells Jason that she will prepare a charm that will enable Jason to complete the king’s challenges.

The next morning Medea brings the charm, and tells Jason to steep it in water, and then pour the water over his body and also on his weapons. Both will be rendered invulnerable for the length of a single day. Then she tells him that when the dragon’s teeth become warriors, Jason should throw a stone amongst them, promising that this will give him a great advantage in the battle that will follow. Jason listens carefully, and then anoints his body and his weapons as instructed. He goes down to the plain of Ares and finds the fiery bulls of which he’d been told. Rendered impervious to the flames, he yokes them and plows the field, throwing down the dragon’s teeth from a bronze helmet the king had given him. When the prophesied warriors spring up from the ground, Jason throws a large stone amongst them, and the sudden movement makes them think that there is an attacker in their ranks. They spring upon each other mindlessly, and thus distracted, Jason is able to easily cut a swathe of death through their lines, until none are left alive.

Upon watching Jason complete the last of his challenges, the king goes quickly back to the city, and then Medea hurries to meet Jason and the Argonauts, telling them that her father’s army will surely attack them in force before long. Medea offers to guide Jason and his men to where the Golden Fleece is kept, and help them obtain it. They board the Argo, and guide the ship along the river according to Medea’s directions until they reach a sacred grove, where the Golden Fleece is kept guarded by a fearsome dragon. Entering the grove with Jason at her side, Medea casts a spell over the monster, so that it settles down and closes its eyes in sleep. Jason snatches the Fleece from where it hangs from a tree, and returns quickly with Medea to the Argo, which then departs in haste for the open sea.

With the Golden Fleece thus obtained, Jason, Medea and the Argonauts return triumphant from their quest. Upon their return, Jason and Medea become king and queen.

References

External links

* [http://www.audioville.com/store/view.php?Id=535&ProductCategoryId=59 Jason and the Argonauts Streaming Audio Samples 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 Streaming Audio Samples on AudioVille]
* [http://www.xmradio.com/onxm/channelpage.xmc?ch=163 XM Satellite Radio – Information on the Sonic Theater Channel]