A play that mostly consists of stage directions, so this audio version is very heavy on narration, which removes any sort of flow and inhibits any sense of drama. It might work as a stage play, but feels wholly unsuitable as an audio drama.

A really powerful story but somewhat confusing to listen to. I have listened to radio plays before but something about the performance of this made it difficult to follow - I would love to see it live though.

Primo Levi is reknown for his writing on his experiences during the Holocaust, with titles such as If This is a Man, The Truce and The Periodic Table.

I listened to an audio version of this short play/publication and it is like nothing I have ever listened to before. It is taken from the script of the stage play and contains a narrated description of the actions that one would see if watching this play, as well as the dialogue.

I found this rather challenging to listen to, and would have preferred to either see this performed or to read the script. I found there to be too much going on aurally in order for me to make sense of it. It is a good play, which has been well written by Ed Davidson and it is not my intention to be negative about the play. Rather, I think it might come across better in a different format.

I’ve never listened to a play before, but the experience is very similar to a multi-cast audiobook (Daisy Jones & the Six, Lincoln in the Bardo). The narrator sets the stage well, but there is still something that is lost in creating a fully immersive experience.

I have read Primo Levi's entire catalog. His lyrical prose was lost in this adaptation, but maybe that was the point. A more approachable format to Levi's experiences? This stripped-down version would be stunning on stage. The voice actors' performances were exceptional.

Unfortunately I could not finish this. I hadn't appreciated how difficult it would be to keep track of the characters and events of a stage play when listening to it as an audiobook. What I did listen to was very good though - certainly good enough for me to order a copy to read.

I studied all of Levi’s books at University, and would still recommend If This is a Man, and The Periodic Table, even 20 years later. So I was curious to see there was a stage play audiobook of his life and works. While the female narrator gave us stage descriptions of the scenery and actions, I did find it hard to follow what was going on. I think it would be powerful to see in person.

I received a free ARC copy of this via NetGalley and the publishers in return for an unbiased review.

"Primo" is a powerful reminder of how deep the human soul goes and how easy it is to break. The screenplay goes back and forth between Primo's old age in 1984 and the time he spent at Auschwitz in southern Poland during WWII. The screenplay shows his last day and how the horrible things he remembers traumatize him every day. The author Ed Davidson wrote the script for the stage play as a tribute to Primo Levi, an author who lived through the Holocaust and wrote about it. This recording is 1 hour and 18 minutes long.

The whole horrible story must be told, including how some prisoners fought back bravely. Sadly, people who tried to fight back were usually tortured and killed even sooner. To stop genocide from happening again, the story must be told. Even though this is a fictionalized story all of the genocide and terrible things that happened are real.

As the story goes on, Levi, who is now older, thinks about his time in the labor camp and wonders if he did enough to help the reader understand. The author describes both Levi's past pain and his current pain. The Holocaust is shown in Davidson's historical fiction screenplay in a sensitive way. It was difficult to listen to this. It made me feel a lot more than I thought it would. The narrator talks about the pain of the past to honor the millions of people who died at the hands of the Nazis and to encourage education about the Holocaust all over the world.

Primo Levi's autobiography, "Survival in Auschwitz," can be read as a book or listened to online if you want to learn more about his time in Auschwitz. The first copy of the book came out in 1947. Every mature adult should listen to "Primo." If you can't or don't want to hear about the worst things people can do to each other, choose a different story. Netgalley gave me this copy of a powerful new audio screenplay to read ahead of publication. The opinions are all mine.

I wasn't sure what to expect as I needed to finish a play prompt for my book challenges and have never read a book in play form. I would have liked it better if it didn't jump back and forth so much. I have to admit if it was any longer I would have Did Not Finish it.

As a production it was good quality. I was hoping to learn about Primo Levi, and basically I did not learn m7ch I did not know. It’s okay but nothing special.

I struggled with this and found it confusing. The actors did a convincing job but the plot seemed muddled to me. There were a lot of other characters and it was harder to follow when it jumped between the past and present. I don't know what it was saying about Primo Levi, his life and legacy.

Synopsis

In 1987, Primo Levi, the Italian writer renowned for his autobiographical Survival in Auschwitz and other writings about the Holocaust, died after falling down the stairwell of his apartment house.

The stage play Primo is a fictional account of Levi's last day. In it, he questions the relevance of his writings to the new generation while journeying into the dreamscape of his memory to a day in Auschwitz. Each step forward draws him further into his memories, blurring the distinction between past and present. He moves into the mist of timelessness, drifting through its shadows and currents, sensing the faint whisperings of distant voices, beckoning.

I listened to this via audiobook written by Ed Davidson
narrated by Abby Craden, Jay Aaseng, Mark McClain Wilson, P.J. Ochlan, and Mark P. Robinson

Primo Levi was a Holocaust survivor and has written about his time in Auschwitz I have never listened to a Stageplay via Audiobook before
I enjoyed listening to this audiobook version of this short play and the varied voices and descriptive scenes. The narrator did set the scene and stage of the play
This helped me to feel part of the play audience. At times the listening was confusing with the varied voices and switching narrative.
The fictional account of Primo’s last day together with snippits of his time as a prisoner was harrowing and chilling I was shocked to listen to Primo discussing the impact of the Holocaust on the survivors Reading and learning about this horrendous time is so important
I am glad I listened to this I would recommend it and feel it will stay with me

Primo Levi (1919 – 1987) was a Jewish Holocaust survivor and the author of books, short stories, essays and poems. His best known work If This is a Man is an account of the year he spent as a prisoner at Auschwitz. I listened to an audio version of this short play - recorded with a cast of actors and with added descriptions of actions I would have seen had I been watching a stage enactment. It’s a hugely impactful production, comprising a fictional account of Primo’s last day of life alongside flashes of recollection from his time as a prisoner.

It’s the first time I’ve listened to something presented quite this way and I did find a bit of a challenge. There’s a lot going on: directions, voices and a narrative that is ever switching and sometimes confusing. But the overall impact is significant; it’s a harrowing piece, one that I think will haunt me for some time.

This was my first time listening to a stageplay via audiobook. The play is a (fictional) glimpse into Auschwitz survivor Primo Levi’s last day. As are all writings about the Holocaust, this is chilling and heart wrenching, but so important to learn about and remember, lest we allow it to be repeated. I’ll be sure to read Mr. Levi’s “Survival in Auschwitz” as well.

Thanks to #NetGalley and the publisher for early access to this audiobook in exchange for an honest review.