The Time Machine (Radio)

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Broadcast History

The Radio Tales production of “The Time Machine” was first broadcast via National Public Radio on December 21st, 1999 [National Public Radio: "NPR Quarterly Edition Fall 1999". NPR Marketing, Oct. - Dec. 1999, Vol. V, No. IV] . The program encompassed two half-hour installments that were distributed to NPR member stations as part of the NPR Playhouse cultural series. Since November 28th, 2002, the entire Radio Tales series has aired in reruns on the Sonic Theater channel (163) of the XM Satellite Radio service [ [http://www.xmradio.com/onxm/features/sonictheater.xmc "Sonic Theater"] XMRadio.com. Accessed May 22, 2008.] . “The Time Machine” program debuted on XM Satellite Radio on January 25, 2003.

Production Information

The program was produced and script edited by series producer Winnie Waldron, who also served as the on-air host [ [http://www.winifredphillips.com/wp_bio.html "Winifred Phillips Official Site: Biography"] Winifredphillips.com. Accessed May 19, 2008.] . Composer Winifred Phillips created over fifty-six minutes of music for the program, and also performed as the featured actress [ [http://www.mninter.net/~jstearns/nprPH.html#top "NPR Playhouse - January - March, 2001"] MNinter.net. Accessed March 21, 2008.] . “The Time Machine” was part of the fourth year of Radio Tales on NPR Playhouse [National Public Radio: "NPR Quarterly Edition Fall 1999". NPR Marketing, Oct. - Dec. 1999, Vol. V, No. IV] .

Media

The Radio Tales production of “The Time Machine” has been available via burn-on-demand CDs manufactured and distributed by MP3.com [ [http://web.archive.org/web/20031129193548/artists.mp3s.com/artists/33/npr_radio_tales.html "MP3.com: Radio Tales"] MP3.com, as indexed by the Internet Archive at Archive.org. Accessed July 15, 2008.] and Ampcast.com [ [http://web.archive.org/web/20060212003627/http://www.ampcast.com/music/25229/artist.php "Ampcast.com: Radio Tales"] Ampcast.com, as indexed by the Internet Archive at Archive.org. Accessed July 15, 2008.] .

Opening narration

Plot Summary

The story centers on an inventor who has created a device capable of traveling through time; the story begins when the time traveler activates this device and travels into the future. The time traveler arrives at a future earth populated by a small, gentle race of people named Eloi who live beneath the shadow of a giant white Sphinx set upon a bronze pedestal. Interacting with the Eloi, the time traveler is dismayed to discover the seeming regression of the human race to a more primitive state. Returning to the time machine to find it has been stolen, the time traveler detects evidence that the machine has been dragged into the bronze pedestal of the Sphinx by way of an entrance which is now inaccessible. After a frantic search, the time traveler discovers a nearby well that leads deep underground. An arduous descent into the well reveals an underground network of tunnels and caverns inhabited by a race of small, apelike creatures called Morlocks. The creatures attack the time traveler, who fights them off and returns to the surface, only to discover that the bronze pedestal has been opened and the time machine is now accessible within. Clearly a trap, the time traveler has no choice but to enter the pedestal, which is quickly locked thereafter by unseen hands. A struggle in the dark ensues, and the time traveler is able to fight off the Morlocks and activate the device again, traveling further into the future. Arriving at a time period in which the earth no longer rotates, and the only life is a green moss covering the land and dark creatures rising out of the sea, the time traveler resets the device and returns to the present day.

Critical Reception

“The Time Machine” program from the Radio Tales series has received favorable reviews. In his review of the program on “The Time Machine: Audiobook Editions” website, Don Brockway wrote, “The emphasis here is on a balance between the music, especially composed for this program, and the reading, which is actually quite excellent. It's an enjoyable production with a solid performance by Phillips... recommended.” [ [http://goto.glocalnet.net/timemachine/vremeplov/books/audio/audioboo.htm The Time Machine: Equal Opportunity Time Travel, on Audio Editions] Goto.glocalnet.net/timemachine/vremeplov/time.htm. Accessed March 21, 2008.]

References

External Links

* [http://www.radiotales.com/ The Official Radio Tales® Web Site]
* [http://www.audioville.co.uk/store/view_productcategory.php?Id=59 Radio Tales® Full Catalog on AudioVille]
* [http://www.xmradio.com/onxm/channelpage.xmc?ch=163 XM Satellite Radio's Sonic Theater Channel]