SWEETNESS #9

An exquisite performance by James Langton brings out the moral themes in this story about contemporary society’s culture of addiction. David, a flavorist-in-training, is testing Sweetness #9 on lab rats. When the rats begin to exhibit odd symptoms and behaviors, David doesn’t follow through with his instincts to blow the whistle on the highly lucrative product. Langton’s deliberately paced narration and inflections highlight David’s introspective nature when, years later, he is living with side effects of the drug—in a society that is obsessed with processed foods and quick-fix-medications. Langton’s diversity of European accents adds to the richness of the characters and the liveliness of the story. His modified falsetto for David’s wife and daughter conveys both humor and heartbreak. M.F. Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award © AudioFile 2014, Portland, Maine [Published: AUGUST 2014]