Tamburlaine the Great, Part 1

Tamburlaine the Great is the name of a play in two parts by Christopher Marlowe. It is loosely based on the life of the Central Asian emperor, Timur 'the lame'. Written in 1587 or 1588, the play is a milestone in Elizabethan public drama; it marks a turning away from the clumsy language and loose plotting of the earlier Tudor dramatists, and a new interest in fresh and vivid language, memorable action, and intellectual complexity. Along with Thomas Kyd's The Spanish Tragedy, it may be considered the first popular success of London's public stage.

Marlowe, generally considered the greatest of the University Wits, influenced playwrights well into the Jacobean period, and echoes of Tamburlaine's bombast and ambition can be found in English plays all the way to the Puritan closing of the theaters in 1642. While Tamburlaine is considered inferior to the great tragedies of the late-Elizabethan and early-Jacobean period, its significance in creating a stock of themes and, especially, in demonstrating the potential of blank verse in drama, are still acknowledged. (Summary by Wikipedia)

CAST

Prologue, Dramatis Personae, GOVERNOR OF DAMASCUS: Martin Geeson
MYCETES, king of Persia; MAGNETES, Median lord; CAPOLIN, an Egyptian; A BASSO; ATTENDANT: Algy Pug
COSROE, his brother: Bruce Pirie
MEANDER, Persian lord: David Richardson
THERIDAMAS, Persian lord: Timothy Ferguson
ORTYGIUS, Persian lord: sparks0314
CENEUS, Persian lord: DerekP
MENAPHON, Persian lord: Alan
TAMBURLAINE, a Scythian shepherd: David Goldfarb
TECHELLES, follower of Tamburlaine: Readalot
USUMCASANE, follower of Tamburlaine: Nigel Boydell
BAJAZETH, emperor of the Turks: bish
KING OF FEZ; KING OF MOROCCO; SOLDAN OF EGYPT; AGYDAS, Median lord: Marty Kris
KING OF ARGIER: Jafbado
KING OF ARABIA: Robert Scheid
PHILEMUS, a spy: Sarah Crampton
ZENOCRATE, daughter to the Soldan of Egypt: Sandra G
ANIPPE, her maid: Availle
ZABINA, wife to BAJAZETH: Amy Gramour
EBEA, her maid: ChyAnne Donnell
FIRST VIRGIN, VIRGINS: Elizabeth Klett
SECOND VIRGIN, VIRGINS: Arielle Lipshaw
Narrator: Tina Nuzzi (2 hr 21 min)

Chapters

Introduction & Dedication	8:25	Read by Martin Geeson
Prologue, Dramatis Personae & Act 1	27:25	Read by LibriVox Volunteers
Act 2	26:20	Read by LibriVox Volunteers
Act 3	25:19	Read by LibriVox Volunteers
Act 4	22:32	Read by LibriVox Volunteers
Act 5	31:55	Read by LibriVox Volunteers

Reviews

(4.5 stars)

BAR

Very well-read, easy to follow text. It is obvious the readers thought about their parts and worked to put feeling and emphasis into the characters. I would've given it five stars, only my iPad refuses to go that high. Good job, Librivox! I will survive Renaissance lit because of y'all. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.

Nicely done

(4.5 stars)

Courtney

Clearly read and easy to listen to and follow along. The actors’ interpretations and inflections made the text come alive.

really good

(5 stars)

prusc

very well read by a great cast.

Fantastic