MY FINE LADY

Yolanda Joe puts a contemporary African-American spin on the classic PYGMALION tale when a young girl with her heart in rap music is transformed by a college professor and his theory into a classy jazz singer. Susan Spain is upbeat in her delivery, but several factors make this anything but a fine performance. First, the female lead is a very young woman, and Spain's characterization does not ring true. Second, there is so little distinction between some of the adult male characters that the listener cannot tell who is speaking in the dialogue between them. This is not one of Spain's best efforts. P.R. © AudioFile 2005, Portland, Maine [Published: OCT/NOV 05]