SHEFFIELD — There’s something about the days leading up to Halloween that — even for those not otherwise inclined to espouse horror stories — beckons readers to pick up a spine-tingling tale or two. This year, you don’t even have to physically pick up a book; you can simply listen, thanks to Sheffield studio BMA Audio and its award-winning producer/owner Jason Brown.
Earlier this month, BMA Audio released “The Ghost Stories of Henry James,” a collection of nine gothic tales, penned by “The Master” and told by premier Berkshire-based stage, screen, and audiobook actors, along with special guest Antonia Beamish.
Although the American-British author Henry James is best known for his novels “The Portrait of a Lady,” “The Bostonians,” and “The Wings of the Dove,” he also had a proclivity for spinning supernatural stories. (His writer pal and one-time Lenox resident Edith Wharton also penned a ghastly collection fit for this time of year.)
Brown embarked on this project because he’s a horror fan, “especially this time of year when you never know what might come out of the mist and swirling leaves,” he laughed, before adding a twist of his own: “I am a Henry James descendant, like a great-great-grandnephew or something, so maybe it’s a natural fit.” That said, Brown had additional motives.
“I chose to record these stories because I love [James’] sensational storytelling, awesome use of language, the effect it has on listeners, and the fun he seems to have in the telling,” Brown said, adding his connection to the 413 made this audio collaboration especially rewarding.
“Living in the Berkshires, I’m fortunate to know and frequently record and produce some of the best language actors working in audiobooks, film, and stage today,” he said, pointing to colleagues Jim Frangione (artistic director at Great Barrington Public Theater, who narrates “The Ghostly Rental”) and Alison Larkin (renowned writer and comedian who narrates “The Third Person”). The two not only brought their expertise in the world of audiobooks to the table, but also made this ambitious collaboration possible. Six more stellar stage and screen actors — Jonathan Epstein, Corrina May, James Warwick, Anne Undeland, Mark Zeisler, and Antonia Beamish — round out the talents who joined forces to bring the best of James’ engrossing ghost tales to life, for the first time ever, with music, effects, and pitch-perfect storytelling.
In the works for more than two years, the production brings the mastery of James’ language, timeless characterizations, and engrossing stories vividly back to life for 21st century audiences. His speculations, imagination, and supernatural conclusions remain as scary as ever. Brown sought out locals, who “readily wrapped their voices around the language and made it as spellbinding as James intended.” After hearing Beamish, the award-winning audiobook voice and movie actor from Great Britain, narrating Sarah Bakewell’s “At The Existential Café,” Brown contacted her straight away.
“Antonia is super-talented at finding the suspense in the delivery of spoken word,” Brown said. “Her timing is exquisite and her British bearing brings rare realism to the supernatural in ‘The Turn of The Screw,’ [a story] I never knew could be so edgy and personal.” (Fans of Stephen King might be keen to know the best-selling author considered “The Turn of the Screw” one of the best horror novels ever written.)
Now, “The Ghost Stories of Henry James” can be found on Audible, just in time for Halloween.
“I can’t appreciate or say enough about the language skills this cast brings to make the stories come to life. I thank them all, and we all thank you, Uncle Henry.”
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October 29, 2021 at 07:23PM
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Spooky sounds: Berkshire producer and voice actors bring Henry James' ghost stories to 'life' - theberkshireedge.com
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