Gulliver's Travels (radio)

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Broadcast History

The Radio Tales production of “Gulliver’s Travels” was first broadcast via NPR on December 7, 1999 [National Public Radio: "NPR Quarterly Edition Fall 1999". NPR Marketing, Oct. – Dec. 1999, Volume 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 “Gulliver’s Travels” program debuted on XM Satellite Radio on March 8, 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.] . “Gulliver’s Travels” 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, Volume V, No. IV] .

Media

The Radio Tales production of “Gulliver’s Travels” has been available in numerous formats and venues, including 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.] . Beginning in 2005, programs from the series, including the “Gulliver’s Travels” program, have been available for download via the Audioville.co.uk web site [ [http://www.audioville.co.uk/store/view_productcategory.php?Id=59 "audioVille | Stor>>Fiction | Radio Tales | Download Audio Books, Podcasts and more in MP3. Comedy, Fiction, sport, news, science, drama."] Audioville.co.uk. Accessed May 24, 2008.] .

Opening narration

Plot Summary

Taking the opportunity to travel and broaden his horizons, Gulliver sets sail aboard a merchant vessel which is the victim of foul weather. Some time after the ship has sunk, Gulliver is washed ashore, and collapses in unconsciousness. He awakens with hundreds of tiny human beings crawling all over him. They are all barely six inches high, and have endeavored to tie him down with ropes. When he struggles, they assault him with volleys of tiny arrows until he is still and docile. Then they bring a supply of meat and drink (all in tiny sizes, but also in great numbers), with which they feed him. Drowsiness ensues, for the tiny people had mixed a sleeping potion with the meal. Confident that Gulliver is no longer a threat, they hoist him by pulleys onto a wheeled conveyance (normally used for hauling newly constructed naval vessels to the sea), and thus wheel him to their city. Chaining him in their largest edifice (a temple that had of late been used for secular activities), the tiny people usher in their emperor, who is very impressed by Gulliver’s grand size. Over time, Gulliver learns the name of the people (Lilliputians) and enough of their language to communicate his innocent intentions and earn their trust. At this time, the Lilliputians were at war with a neighboring kingdom, and Gulliver volunteers his assistance in defending Lilliput against the anticipated invasion by sea. He wades out into the water, where the host of war ships advances, and fastens cables to each of the ships, then hauls them all to shore behind him. The emperor receives Gulliver as a returning hero, and bestows upon Gulliver his nation’s highest title of honor.

References

External Links

* [http://www.audioville.co.uk/store/view.php?Id=533&ProductCategoryId=59 The Gulliver’s Travels page on Audioville.co.uk]
* [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]