Audio vs Text

I realize my post about the audio version of Hamlet is late, but I was waiting on a response from Mrs Gardner, currently teaching advanced placement and 11th grade English. After listening to a BBC Radio production of Hamlet and the commentary version, I wondered how these could be used effectively in a classroom. I asked Mrs. Gardner how or if she uses audio in her classroom. Surprisingly, she said she tries to use audio clips as much and briefly as possible. Clear as mud, right? She explained that giving the characters a voice is great for interesting students, but simply sitting and listening and possibly reading along will not work in a classroom. The students aren't doing anything. They aren't engaged in the text. However, she gave several ideas for using audio.

• Play the audio while the students do the acting on the spot. They'll have to carefully listen to know what to do, and because it is so impromptu it is fun. Have students rotate out for different roles to ensure participation.
• For scenes such as the ghost scene in Hamlet or the Lady Macbeth dream scene in Macbeth, turn down the lights and listen to those excerpts to create a mood.
• For dramatic soliloquys ("To Be or Not To Be," St Crispin's Speech, Romeo's final lines, or Iago's dark planning), play the clips, and if it is required to have student's memorize them, play them, stop them and have the students pick up where the character left off.

I understand why audio wouldn't be effective for the whole class period, but implementing them often and in appropriate amounts is brilliant.

Any other ideas on how to use audio in a classroom?