The October 2, 2021, broadcast at 10 AM on KING FM was recorded in 1997. Cast information and a full synopsis are found below.
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Cast
(Listed in order of appearance)
CONDUCTOR: George Manahan
THE BAILIFF, Archie Drake
HANS, Alex Mansoori
GRETEL, Christy Villareale
KARL, Jason Scowcroft
CLARA, Mara Caden
MAX, Evan Marks
FRITZ, Damon Huberty
JOHANN, Byron Ellis
SCHMIDT, Paul Gudas
SOPHIE, Jane Giering-DeHaan
WERTHER, Vinson Cole
CHARLOTTE, Jean Rigby
BRÜHLMANN, Christian Jacob
KÄTCHEN, Melina Pyron
ALBERT, Erich Parce
Full Synopsis
The action takes place in Wetzlar, Germany, in 1772.
ACT ONE
The Bailiff sits in his garden, teach¬ing his children. Christmas carols. Johann and Schmidt enter and tease him about singing such songs in July. Werther arrives to take the Bailiff's eldest daughter, Charlotte, to a party. He falls in love with her at first sight. After the two have left for the ball, Albert, her fiancé, returns from a trip and finds Charlotte is out. Werther and Charlotte come back; Werther tells her he wishes he could stay with her always. After the Bailiff announces Albert's return, Charlotte reveals to Werther her promise to her dying mother that she'd marry Albert. Werther despairs.
ACT TWO
In the town square in fall, three months after the marriage of Charlotte and Albert, Werther sees the couple walking toward the church and reflects on the love he has lost. Albert greets Werther affectionately and tells him he understands his feelings for Charlotte. When Charlotte comes out of the church, Werther reminds her of his love. Charlotte coldly responds that she is married now. She asks him go away, at least until Christmas. As Werther runs off, Albert can see that the young man is still in love with Charlotte.
ACT THREE
On Christmas Eve, Charlotte sits alone reading Werther's letters, realiz¬ing how much she cares for him. Werther enters, trembling, and tells her he would rather die than be away from her another hour. He reads her a despairing poem that makes her cry and Werther concludes that her response means she loves him. He throws himself at her feet, pleading, and takes her in his arms. Charlotte flees. Werther leaves, declaring he will end his life. Albert enters; he knows Werther has been there. A note comes from Werther, asking if Albert will loan him his pis¬tols. Although Charlotte is terrified, Albert tells her to give the pistols to the messenger. Charlotte does so, then runs through the snow to Werther's house. She finds Werther mortally wounded. She tells him she has always loved him. He asks her to bury him beneath the linden trees near the church. As Werther breathes his last, the children outside sing Christmas carols.