THE UGLIFIED DUCKLING

Willy Claflin assumes the personas of Maynard Moose, Rocky the Raccoon, Gorf the Frog, and even an alien as he presents these funny takes on familiar stories. In the title story, it's a moose, rather than a swan, being shunned by the ducks. In a slightly modified "Tortoise and Hare," the moral becomes that the faster animal wins. Claflin's cast of characters adds humor and variety to the production as Gorf decides he'd rather worry about his hat than finish his song and Maynard unleashes streams of spoonerisms and malapropisms. These stories are best suited to a lower-elementary audience, but Claflin doesn't forget the adults in his unique and memorable performance. A.F. (c) AudioFile 2003, Portland, Maine [Published: APR/MAY 03]