Over-staying its Welcome
Review of the Audible Original audiobook edition (March 3, 2022) of the original theatrical play "The Fever" (published 1991, premiered in 1990).

This new audiobook recording of Wallace Shawn's play The Fever (1990) derives from its recent reappearance on stage when it became the post-pandemic reopening show at Audible's Minetta Lane Theater in New York City for a run of 18 performances from October 8 to 24, 2021.

My reaction to the audiobook was similar to that of the Stage Buddy review (linked below under the photograph). What is engrossing for about 60 minutes becomes a trial for 90 minutes, regardless of how appealing the actor is. It may be even more difficult with the audio where you don't have the added visual element of watching the actor's performance.

In any case, this was certainly a prescient work when it debuted in 1990 when it talked out the concept of privilege in the developed world and the exploitation of the rest of humanity.


Photograph of actress Lili Taylor in the October 2021 revival of "The Fever", as performed at Audible's Minetta Lane Theater in New York City. Image sourced from Stage Buddy.

The Fever audiobook is a studio recording rather than a live theatre performance.

Trivia and Links
The Fever was adapted as the same-titled film in 2004 directed by Carlo Gabriel Nero with an expanded cast that starred Vanessa Redgrave, Joely Richardson and Angelina Jolie. A trailer can be seen on YouTube here.


Teaser image of 6 new Audible Theater audiobook releases on March 3, 2022. Image sourced from Audible. ( )

Really interesting, in terms of how Shawn was able to carry this out without being heavyhanded. I'd like to see it performed by someone worthy of the text. ( )