KANE AND ABEL

There's always a line beyond which an abridgment is more aptly called a short story. This production unfortunately crosses that line. This variation on the biblical story is thoroughly entertaining, and Jeff Harding's reading adds to the experience. Harding has a lively style that fits the novel, and he uses different accents effectively. The problem is that by reducing a 592-page book to a three-hour recording, too much is left out. By the end, the listener wants to know so much more about the characters, particularly Abel Rosnovski, who, both on the printed page and in Harding's performance, epitomizes the immigrant struggles and successes that define the American dream. D.J.S. (c) AudioFile 2004, Portland, Maine [Published: JUN/ JUL 04]