MIRACLE ON 34TH STREET

The New York State Theatre Institute presents an audio theater production of the familiar Christmas story about an old man who brings the true spirit of Christmas to New York City. The production creates a rift between the listener and the story in the first crowd scenes, in which the crowd noise competes with the dialogue. Sound effects continue to dominate throughout the production, often making it difficult to distinguish among the many male characters whose voices are not distinct. The story is familiar enough that it can withstand some confusion, but this production requires undivided attention. As the package includes a study guide and suggestions for teachers, this production may be best suited to classroom use. A.F. (c) AudioFile 2003, Portland, Maine [Published: AUG/SEP 03]