THE BOY WITH THE MAGIC NUMBERS

In her children’s stories, Sally Gardner tackles serious issues (like parents separating) with a compassionate precision that’s lightly delivered. Stephen Greif does an equally masterful job highlighting the story’s humor while still allowing its sadness to come across, and he’s terrific at creating the story’s variety of characters. Switching between British, Italian, and New York accents, Greif brings to life a wealth of characters, from the delightful Italian grandmother, Mighty Mama, to Billy’s Dad’s girlfriend, Trixie, and even her yappy dog, Miss Precious. The many humorous characterizations he creates make this production funny, enjoyable, and simple to follow, despite the frequent dialogue between numerous characters. This is a story that will be enjoyed by the entire family. J.C.G. Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award © AudioFile 2006, Portland, Maine [Published: APR/ MAY 06]