Abaton Radio Theater | Provocative Dramas (2 Plays by Arch Oboler)

Description

Provocative Dramas by Arch Oboler, presented by Abaton Radio Theater, revives the golden age of American audio drama through new studio recordings of two seminal late-1930s plays: Catwife and Baby. The release serves as a tribute to writer, director, and producer Arch Oboler, a visionary often hailed as the radio equivalent of Rod Serling. Master of the macabre, socially conscious science fiction, and psychological thrillers, Oboler elevated radio theatre into an immersive, cinematic art form. Radio theatre relies entirely on sound to construct narrative, character, and atmosphere, engaging the listener’s imagination to build a visual world. Central to this art form is foley, the tactile, manual creation of sound effects, from creaking door hinges to footsteps and uncanny environmental noises, performed synchronously with the dramatic dialogue. On Provocative Dramas, the A.R.T. (Abaton Radio Theater) Players; Amy Fulgham, Jordan Kaplan, Brady Ovson, and director Lauri Bortz, deliver gripping, visceral performances that honor Oboler’s sharp scripts while injecting contemporary theatrical vitality. Directed and produced by acclaimed playwright, author, and Abaton Book Company founder Lauri Bortz, these recordings showcase her keen eye for psychological tension and nuance. Under Bortz’s direction, Catwife, originally made famous by Boris Karloff on Oboler’s iconic Lights Out series, unfolds as a terrifying study of domestic collapse, while Baby, once starring Joan Crawford, tackles the anxiety of motherhood against the ominous backdrop of impending world war. Enhancing the dramatic stakes is an evocative original score composed by multi-instrumentalist Marianne Nowottny. Nowottny provides a nuanced musical backdrop that seamlessly weaves around the foley effects, heightening every thematic twist.

Track Listing

1. Catwife (26:35)
2. Baby (26:55)