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(bootbearwdc/flickr)
Three tales featuring couples in trouble.
“She asks nothing of me but to be left alone. And this is where the serpent begins to swallow its tail. The more she rejects me, the more I want to be with her. And the more I want to be with her, the more intent she becomes that I stay away."—Nathan Englander, “For the Relief of Unbearable Urges.”
Three tales featuring couples in trouble.
The first of three stories featuring couples, Nathan Englander’s “For the Relief of Unbearable Urges” chronicles the misadventures of a pious resident of Jerusalem who seeks sexual advice from his rabbi—with unexpected results. (Parental guidance is suggested for young listeners because of some delicate parts of this warm and funny tale.) The reader is Jefferson Mays, Tony Award winner for his solo performance in “I am My Own Wife.”
Playwright Neil LaBute contributes our next story, in which a couple on the verge of an illicit weekend reach an emotional crossroads instead. The story is “A Second of Pleasure,” the title work from LaBute’s story collection. The readers of this duet for the heartsick are the film and television actors Maura Tierney (“ER”; “CSI”) and Andrew McCarthy (“St. Elmo’s Fire.”)
This program of couples and confusion concludes with another twosome, Barbara Barrie and David Strathairn reading Sue Allison’s delightful confessional collage, “Lies I’ve Told.”
The musical interlude in this program is “Neshamah”, by John Zorn, on the album “Masada Five.” The SELECTED SHORTS theme is Roger Kellaway’s “Come to the Meadow.”
“For the Relief of Unbearable Urges,” by Nathan Englander, read by Jefferson Mays “A Second of Pleasure,” by Neil LaBute, read by Andrew McCarthy and Maura Tierney “Lies I’ve Told,” by Sue Allison, read by Barbara Barrie and David Strathairn
For additional works featured on SELECTED SHORTS, please visit Symphony Space
We’re interested in your response to these programs. Please comment on this site or visit www.selectedshorts.org
The Stella Kupferberg Memorial Short Story Contest Have you always wanted to try your hand at a story story? Here’s your chance: our annual writing contest. Go to https://www.symphonyspace.org/writing_contest/ for details of the 2009 contest.
Listener’s choice! On June 9th, 2010, SELECTED SHORTS at Symphony Space in New York will feature stories selected by our nationwide audience. Go to http://www.symphonyspace.org/shorts/audience_picks to submit your suggestions for a published story you think we should read. Then in the spring, you’ll vote for your favorite from among the final contenders.
Three tales featuring couples in trouble.
The first of three stories featuring couples, Nathan Englander’s “For the Relief of Unbearable Urges” chronicles the misadventures of a pious resident of Jerusalem who seeks sexual advice from his rabbi—with unexpected results. (Parental guidance is suggested for young listeners because of some delicate parts of this warm and funny tale.) The reader is Jefferson Mays, Tony Award winner for his solo performance in “I am My Own Wife.”
Playwright Neil LaBute contributes our next story, in which a couple on the verge of an illicit weekend reach an emotional crossroads instead. The story is “A Second of Pleasure,” the title work from LaBute’s story collection. The readers of this duet for the heartsick are the film and television actors Maura Tierney (“ER”; “CSI”) and Andrew McCarthy (“St. Elmo’s Fire.”)
This program of couples and confusion concludes with another twosome, Barbara Barrie and David Strathairn reading Sue Allison’s delightful confessional collage, “Lies I’ve Told.”
The musical interlude in this program is “Neshamah”, by John Zorn, on the album “Masada Five.” The SELECTED SHORTS theme is Roger Kellaway’s “Come to the Meadow.”
“For the Relief of Unbearable Urges,” by Nathan Englander, read by Jefferson Mays “A Second of Pleasure,” by Neil LaBute, read by Andrew McCarthy and Maura Tierney “Lies I’ve Told,” by Sue Allison, read by Barbara Barrie and David Strathairn
For additional works featured on SELECTED SHORTS, please visit Symphony Space
We’re interested in your response to these programs. Please comment on this site or visit www.selectedshorts.org
The Stella Kupferberg Memorial Short Story Contest Have you always wanted to try your hand at a story story? Here’s your chance: our annual writing contest. Go to https://www.symphonyspace.org/writing_contest/ for details of the 2009 contest.
Listener’s choice! On June 9th, 2010, SELECTED SHORTS at Symphony Space in New York will feature stories selected by our nationwide audience. Go to http://www.symphonyspace.org/shorts/audience_picks to submit your suggestions for a published story you think we should read. Then in the spring, you’ll vote for your favorite from among the final contenders.
About Selected Shorts
Selected Shorts features some of the finest artists of the American theater reading contemporary and classic short fiction-the most distinguished works of the early masters such as Chekhov, Maupassant, Malamud and dozens of others.
To listen to this program, and other recent programs, subscribe to the Selected Shorts podcast
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Comments [2]
Enjoying SShorts stories of Couples today, its ending "Lies I've Told" was coincident with my sending the following yesterday to some e-pals.
... http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ten_Commandments_in_Roman_Catholicism#Eighth_commandment
>
> As much automatic e-Forwarding -- with little if any scrutiny -- seems akin to the above,
> I wonder what you think, Joe
I live for your program -- well, that could be in "Lies I've Told," that was hyperbole. But how about this: I arrange my Saturdays for your program, which airs at 7am (ack!) on WCQS-FM of which I am a member.
How can I secure recordings of stories that are NOT collected already on special edition CDs for sale on your Web site? I'd love a copy of "Lies I've Told." And many others I've heard over the years.
Many thanks for years of delight. Your selections are brilliant, direction spot-on, and the portrayals rich and impeccable.
Always your fan,
Ann
Thank you for your kind note. Unfortunately, copyright restrictions prevent us from streaming or archiving these programs, but they are available for a limited time as podcasts on iTunes, audible.com; and at npr.org.
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