Review of Beowulf on Gary Whitaker's CD, "Tales of Ancient Warriors":

Your delivery of Beowulf perfectly captures the dark and grim tone, that quality of sheer terror that makes this ancient poem more genuinely exciting than any other in our language. Your skillful voice modulations and rhythms are worthy of an Old English scop, and your occasional use of alliteration nicely evokes the Germanic alliterative measure used by poets in Britain before the Norman Conquest.

Listening to this hair-raising tale of a hideous monster who lurks in the marshes and fens, stealing forth at night to devour sleeping warriors, we move backward in time, away from all the conveniences and safeguards of modern life that shield us from the primal fears of our ancestors. We can imagine ourselves in a huge timbered mead-hall -- one very much like Hrothgar's Heorot -- listening to a scop narrate entirely from memory an epic tale of good and evil, of light and darkness passed down from bard to bard through the generations.

No mere reading of the text of Beowulf, either in the original or in translation, can achieve that effect the way your oral interpretation does. If I were teaching Beowulf today, as I have several times in the past, I would have my class listen to your CD before laying eyes on the written text. I know it would greatly enhance any student's appreciation of the poem.

Joseph E. Roesch
author of Boudica, Queen of The Iceni
www.boudica-roesch.com

Joseph E. Roesch is a retired English professor who lives in Hamilton, NY, with his wife, Linda. He holds a doctorate in Medieval English Literature from The University of Wisconsin (Madison) and has taught at The University of Wisconsin, Syracuse University and Onondaga Community College (The State University Of New York).

His first novel, Boudica, Queen Of The Iceni, draws upon a lifelong interest in history, language, literature and myth.

"Gary Whitaker, Storyman, brought Beowulf to life for my English students. Their excitement and interest in this poem, after watching and listening to him, was amazing. My students were engaged from the moment he stepped in front of them (in full costume) to the moment he concluded his performance. They asked questions and wanted him to tell them more of this fabulous poem. As an English teacher and head theatre director, I was so impressed with Gary's knowledge of both Beowulf and history as well as his performance. Gary's love of literature and his skill as a storyteller worked together, and a masterpiece was created. Grendel was hungry for human flesh. The Storyman, Gary Whitaker, made my students hungry for Beowulf. It just doesn't get better than that in the classroom!"
Connie Sanchez
Haltom High School
Birdville ISD

"...Unforgettable Characters...A true delight."
Renee Ackerman Norris
Theater Teacher
Haltom High School

"Awesome and captivating...a riveting storyteller..."
Candace Reyff (creyff@irvingisd.net)
Elliott Elementary School - Irving, Texas

"Gary's storytelling skill transports the listener to another place and time. Gary's character portrayal is seamless. Gary captures your interest and holds it. He brings you along on an adventure each time he tells. You'll never forget hearing Gary tell you a story...the "old sleeping bag" story is still with me to this day! There is no "getting into character"... Gary IS the character!"
Sallie Andrews
Historic Preservation Manager
City of Grapevine
Sandrews@ci.grapevine.tx.us

"Gary Whitaker took a group of savvy, skeptical and technologically saturated teenagers and using the persuasive power of the spoken word, twisted and turned them every which way but loose. The look of wide-eyed wonder on their faces was priceless."
Laura Cleveland MLS
Watauga Public Library
Watauga, Texas

"Gary's ability to bring alive the spirit of storytelling has made him a favorite in the children's areas of the North Texas Irish Festival and the Celtic Heritage Festival. Stories are no longer confined to books and movies, and children and their parents sit captivated by the "animation" Gary incorporates with costume, vocal inflection, enthusiasm, and an obvious research into the story, the history, and the culture. His popularity at these events has expanded his appearance from the children's areas to the cultural areas, and his audiences grow each year."
Dawn Watkins
Urchin Street Coordinator
(Children's Area North Texas Irish Festival)
erinmist2001@yahoo.com