Listen free for 30 days
-
Playing Burton
- Narrated by: Matthew Rhys
- Length: 1 hr and 19 mins
- Categories: Literature & Fiction, Drama & Plays
Summary
Emmy Award winner Matthew Rhys stars in this fascinating and award-winning one-man show about international star of stage and screen Richard Burton. Written by Mark Jenkins, Playing Burton offers a penetrating look at the notorious actor’s life, from growing up in an impoverished mining community in South Wales to becoming one of the greatest performers of his generation. Following his passionate, though tempestuous, love affair with Elizabeth Taylor and his tragic - and very public - battle with alcoholism, Playing Burton is a soulful exploration of fame, ambition, and identity told from the perspective of the megastar who experienced it all.
Please note: Playing Burton contains adult language and themes.
More from the same
Narrator
What listeners say about Playing Burton
Reviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars
-
Story5 out of 5 stars
- Admiralu
- 31-01-21
A Look at the Legend
This was a play about the life of actor Richard Burton. Matthew Rhys portrayed him handily, and the accents were spot on. A touching look back into family dynamics, career and friends, it was entertaining.
7 people found this helpful
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars
-
Story5 out of 5 stars
- @CDufWriter
- 12-02-21
Should be a six-star option
Reminds me of that time when even drunks might have class. The language, the weaving of conversation with literature, the voice. That voice, almost like he was back with us for a moment. Bravo.
5 people found this helpful
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars
-
Story5 out of 5 stars
- jazzsinger
- 12-02-21
Blown away. Magnificent beyond my expectations.
Knowing of the career of the great Richard Burton is one thing, to allow yourself to be completely immersed, enthralled, and smitten with every word, every inflection, every moment of this brilliant piece is a true, delicious delight. The acting sublimely superb, the writing, again fabulous. One of my favorites so far, utterly entertaining.
5 people found this helpful
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars
-
Story5 out of 5 stars
- Kathryn C
- 08-02-21
Very Enjoyable
Liked it a lot - jives quite well with the impression of Burton’s life that I got from reading his published diaries.
Rhys’ natural South Walian accent serves the piece well - his timbre sounds a little higher and he does speak a bit more quickly than how I “hear” Burton’s voice in my head. Luckily, I discovered that choosing to have it play back at 0.9 or 0.8 speed deepens the tone, slows things down to a speed that better suits my own notions of Burton’s meter, and as a bonus, doing so also conveniently imparted the impression of the slightly inebriated slur that so many full-time drinkers develop.
4 people found this helpful
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars
-
Story5 out of 5 stars
- Ray Cassidy
- 07-02-21
Playing Burton
Exquisite. A must listen to! The man playing Burton has him down pat. I’m amazed that I felt so many emotions in such a short time. Kudos to Audible for this amazing piece of art!
4 people found this helpful
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars
-
Story5 out of 5 stars
- Yas
- 31-01-21
Worrisomely impressive
This for me is worrisomely impressive because as a you lad, I idolized Richard Burton as an actor. I don't think I really want to him as person. This act kind of spoiled it by being so good. 🤭
4 people found this helpful
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars
-
Story5 out of 5 stars
- Valérie
- 26-02-21
quite a surprise
I really enjoyed this! Definitely check it out. I thought it was a bio when I grabbed it. it's better than that.
3 people found this helpful
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars
-
Story5 out of 5 stars
- Constant Reader
- 09-02-21
Wonderful!
Beautifully written and acted. I highly recommend for anyone who loves theatre and history! Bravo!!
3 people found this helpful
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars
-
Story5 out of 5 stars
- TDL Martin
- 06-02-21
Great acting
great acting. one of the best books I've ever listened to can't recommend it enough
3 people found this helpful
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars
-
Story5 out of 5 stars
- neverwithoutespresso
- 25-02-21
I'm Speechless
Really, I'm speechless, because this play is so brilliantly written and performed. I have no more to say, except that the script is illuminated with quotes, among them Shakespeare, Marlowe, and, my favorite, a rather long one from "The Spy Who Came in From the Cold."
I know I will be withdrawing this work from my "library" again and again.
2 people found this helpful