The cast of “The Maltese Falcon,” which ran Jan. 10-12, 2013, at Warehouse Performing Arts Center. (David Boraks/DavidsonNews.net)

Here’s a DavidsonNews.net/ CorneliusNews.net multimedia extra: An audio recording of the recent live reading of the 1940s radio thriller “The Maltese Falcon” at The Warehouse Performing Arts Center in Cornelius.

You can stream the 1 hour and 5 minute show here or download it for later. Listen below.

Humphrey Bogart starred in the film

The radio play is based on John Huston’s 1941 film noir on the big screen, which  starred Humphrey Bogart and was based on Dashiell Hammett’s novel. In it, San Francisco detective Sam Spade tries to unravel – and gets caught up in – the mystery of a jewel-encrusted statuette.

Charlotte-area theater vet Jim Esposito directed the cast of 16 in the live reading. The stage was bare, with only a few props you’d find in a radio studio – microphones, “on the air” and “applause” signs. All sound effects and as well as the actor’s lines were performed live in front of the Warehouse “studio audience.”

Mr. Esposito said the idea for staging an old-time radio program “came to me out of the blue. I was watching TV (can’t remember which program) and it just popped into my head.”

Radio plays on the stage are a hot idea: In December 2013,  Davidson Community Players will produce a theatrical reading of the radio play “Miracle on 34th Street.”

RELATED LINKS

The Warehouse Performing Arts Center: www.warehousepac.com.

Jan. 10, 2013, CorneliusNews.net, “Live at the Warehouse: a ‘Maltese Falcon’ radio play”

From left, Cat Rutledge (as Brigid Wonderly), Scott Slusarick (Sam Spade) and Jim Esposito (director and Archer). (David Boraks/DavidsonNews.net)

Listen to “The Maltese Falcon,” as performed live at the Warehouse Performing Arts Center on Thursday, Jan. 10, 2013. Click the play button to start. Can’t see the player or hear the audio? CLICK HERE> (MP3, 1 hour 8 min)

Listening notes

That’s director Jim Esposito introducing the show. Andy Harrison designed the sound.  The cast is as follows:

Announcer – Lou Dalessandro
C.B. Demille – Alan England
Lt. Dundy – Roger Watson
Sam Spade – Scott Slusarick
Effie – Aby Pagan
Brigid Wonderly – Cat Rutledge
Joel Cairo – Brian Rassler
Wilmer – Bill Barton
Gutman – Phil Robertson
Polhaus/The D.A./other men – Andy Harrison
Director/Archer – Jim Esposito
Mrs. Burton/woman – Marilyn England
Mrs. Sutherland – Joanne McCarthy
Girl/Betty – Dee Saltrick
Mrs. Johnson/Young lady – Chris Watson

Audio recording produced by David Boraks (editor@davidsonnews.net) for DavidsonNews.net and CorneliusNews.net.