SWEEP DREAMS

Ed Sala's stolid narration brings this fantasy about a lonely man and his broom comfortably to earth. During a visit to a country store, a man admires a captivating handmade broom and buys it. When he discovers the broom can dance, he falls in love with it. Trouble begins when the broom is coveted by another and stolen. A bittersweet ending leaves listeners musing. Except for the sibilant sweep of the broom, Sala relates the story unadorned. His delivery works well to ground what could otherwise be too flighty a tale. His avuncular tones invite listeners to create their own meaning for this unusual story, uninfluenced by a subjective reading. E.B.A. © AudioFile 2006, Portland, Maine [Published: DEC 06/ JAN 07]