Major character Armitage

I know it mystifies some readers of this blog that I spend a lot of time obsessively relistening to Sylvester, and it perturbs others that I can fit a love for both Strike Back and Sylvester, pieces at the opposite ends of the aesthetic spectrum, in my mental universe. “Armitage does it!” is all I can say. In other words: I can’t really explain it, either, but even though I love Venetia, maybe even more than Sylvester, for some reason Sylvester is my goto audiobook on really long drives. The delicious fourth disc has been lodged in my car stereo for the whole vacation, the velvety voice and ridiculous story calming me down any time I’m overbalanced, and I may soon have it memorized.

After my last long drive, we held a poll to award a prize for “best voicing of a minor character in Sylvester, male” and “best voicing of a minor character in Sylvester, female,” and now it’s time for the corresponding awards for “best voicing of a major character in Sylvester.”

Concessions: I fully concede that the line between a major and a minor character is somewhat arbitrary. Also, obviously the most important character that Mr. Armitage voices in this audiobook is Georgette Heyer; she’d win hands down, so I am leaving her out, and planning to write more about how he performs Heyer at a later date. Choices for a major male character were quite obviously limited. I tried throughout to avoid the obvious speeches or those that would be guaranteed to win a prize for a character (so no Sylvester declaring his love for Phoebe here).

Servetus clears her throat:

The nominees for “Best Voicing of a minor character in Sylvester, female,” are, in no particular order:

Phoebe, telling her grandmama about the events that inspired her breakneck journey to London:

Ianthe, at her first meeting with Phoebe:

Lady Ingham (Phoebe’s grandmama), suggesting to Sylvester that Phoebe might be the girl he’s looking for:

The dowager Duchess of Salford (Sylvester’s mama), speaking with him upon his return to London after his continental escapade:

and finally, Miss Battery, responding to Phoebe’s dislike of Sylvester:

And here’s the poll:

Servetus clears her throat again.

The nominees for “Best Voicing of a minor character in Sylvester, male,” are, in no particular order:

Sylvester, telling Phoebe what’s what at the Castlereaghs’ ball:

Tom Orde, writing a note to his mother to tell her he’s run off with Phoebe:

And here’s the poll:

You may vote once in each poll. I’ll leave this poll open for the next week. I look forward to discussion of these choices and of Mr. Armitage’s performance in the comments.

~ by Servetus on December 30, 2011.