CENTERBURG TALES

The zany world of a town in Ohio some six decades ago is described in the imaginative stories of giant ragweed plants; a con man selling, well, nothing; and settlers and Indians on the Ohio frontier. The cast of characters is just as wonderful: the sheriff who can’t speak right; the storyteller, Uncle Hercules; and our young hero, Homer Price. While some of the details may be unfamiliar to listeners two or three generations removed, for example, the narrator notes the children playing around the G.A.R. monument, all these tales are enlivened and enriched by John McDonough. His enthusiasm and energy are contagious, his performance enthralling. Listeners may find themselves mesmerized by the con man selling the non-product called “everso-muchmoreso.” In human endeavors nothing is perfect, but this performance may be as close as it comes. M.T.F. Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award. © AudioFile 2001, Portland, Maine [Published: OCT/ NOV 01]