THE WILD WEST

This eclectic collection of short stories of the Old West offers great performances, with actors and listeners sharing the vitality of live theater. Amy Madigan performs Edward Wheeler's "Deadwood Dick" with a wry wit and wonderful ear for the nineteenth-century language. Gary Dourdan delivers "The Naked Gun" by John Jakes with style and verve. But Sheila Kelley's deeply moving rendition of "Journey to the Fort" by Dorothy M. Johnson steals the show. The collectively held breath of the live audience, followed by surprise and relief, mirrors one's own reactions. Performed at the Met Theatre in Hollywood, this is an example of live performance and audiobooks making a perfect match. B.P. © AudioFile 2006, Portland, Maine [Published: JUN/ JUL 06]