The Screwtape Letters: First Ever Full-cast Dramatization of the Diabolical Classic

5 Responses to “The Screwtape Letters: First Ever Full-cast Dramatization of the Diabolical Classic”

1. Ginger R. Takamiya Says:
   April 25th, 2010 at 8:33 pm

   My family loved this audio collection! We put it in the DVD player and set the audio on “Small Hall” and listened for several hours at a time. We couldn’t put it away! I found myself relating on more than one occasion which is why this story drew me in so completely.

   Screwtape certainly made you think seriously about your own prayer life as well as providing an inspiring look inside the enemy’s camp. You’ll walk away understanding so much more about warfare. Truly a “must-have” for any audio library!
   Rating: 5 / 5

2. Citromike Says:
   April 25th, 2010 at 9:40 pm

   I’m a voracious reader. I enjoy audio books. I’ve read Screwtape at least 20 times and have John Cleese’s audio version. In the case of this edition, I am forced to ask, What is the point?

   Why complicate it with a dramatization, why add drawings, why overlay a tiger’s growl over Screwtape’s voice? Why reset the scenes and have the tempters talking directly to each other rather than only via the letters? Why show me the sound board and the folk sitting in the recording studio? And songs?

   This production adds a layer of interpretation by other people, who sit between Lewis and us as reader/listeners. They re-set the stage, revised the mood, re-interpreted with technology, and offer us their understanding of Screwtape.

   Lewis gave us the words, we can bring our own mental world to it, we read and imagine and create. I can tell you from experience that it takes about 7 minutes per chapter to read them aloud – you could probably read them in half the time silently. Maybe double that time if you savor the experience or struggle with the imagery.

   If you prefer the additional features to amplify your internal image, this product will do the job nicely.

   In my case, an existing “Screwtape universe” is being invaded by conflicting imagery.
   Rating: 2 / 5

3. Jamie L. Starling Says:
   April 26th, 2010 at 12:02 am

   I ordered this to listen to with my daughter. We are both intrigued by hearing how the demons view humans. It is an eye-opener!
   Rating: 5 / 5

4. Rachel Robinson Says:
   April 26th, 2010 at 12:19 am

   If there’s one thing Monty Python star John Cleese and Focus on the Family agree on, it’s that hell is a decidedly British place.

   At least, that’s what one might assume after hearing their competing audio interpretations of C.S. Lewis’ classic book, The Screwtape Letters.

   John Cleese’s masterful interpretation of Screwtape is full of all the eloquence and humor we’ve come to expect from the Python master. His off-the-wall demeanor is well suited to the unusual subject matter, and his ability to transition swiftly between the light-hearted and the dour makes for a reading that is both laugh-out-loud funny and truly terrifying at almost the same time.

   Focus on the Family’s latest Lewisian drama departs somewhat from the original text, providing not merely an audiobook but rather a full-cast dramatization of the work. Andy Serkis of Lord of the Rings fame presents a chilling performance of Screwtape, while Bertie Carvel portrays a properly subservient Wormwood.

   It’s a beautifully performed drama, with relatively minimal departures from the book. Rather than corresponding, for example, Screwtape and Wormwood plot and pander in person–an adaptation that makes for some impressive sound effects when Screwtape inadvertently transforms himself into a large centipede. These, combined with an original score composed for the production, make for a experience that small children may find too frightening for comfort. Given the subject matter, this is probably just as well.

   It’s also a beautifully packaged drama; Cleese may give Serkis a run for his money rhetorically, but it would be difficult to match Focus on the Family’s choice of artists and typographers. The set of five discs includes a DVD presentation of behind-the-scenes footage of making The Screwtape Letters, and a playlist of original songs composed for the drama and inspired by the text.

   It’s such a beautiful production, in fact, that one wonders what the point is. Why should one dramatize a perfectly readable book? Much as I enjoyed this audio presentation, I can’t help being bothered by the fact that this new interpretation puts a barrier between reader and text that simply isn’t necessary. There are definite advantages to audio books, but books read aloud are generally best when presented simply and eloquently, as John Cleese does so well in his Screwtape.

   Then again, this is a story about hell in all its fury. Perhaps a little distance is wise after all.

   Thank you to Tyndale for providing me with a free copy of this work in exchange for my candid review.
   Rating: 4 / 5

5. Resigned Smithy Says:
   April 26th, 2010 at 2:26 am

   I received the CD set in a timely manner, and in excellent condition. I have read the book, and it is a hauntingly cautionary tale- truly a timeless treasure- and this dramatization is true to the text. Though the sound effects can at times be distracting, more often than not the theatrics envelop you in the narrative. I definitely and wholeheartedly recommend this product.
   Rating: 5 / 5

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