CONFESSIONS OF AN UGLY STEPSISTER

Margarethe and her two homely daughters flee seventeenth-century England for Holland, where poverty forces them to work for a wealthy tulip merchant. After the death of the merchant's wife, Margarethe and he are married, and she becomes stepmother to his captivating and bewildered daughter, Iris. Jenny Sterlin magically depicts all these characters while incorporating period slang and Dutch intonation. As this enchanting story unfolds, Sterlin's portrayal of Iris reveals remarkable inner beauty, wisdom, and a soul older than her years. Margarethe is bigger than life, a true survivor with a cunning instinct to protect her daughters, and herself in the bargain, no matter the consequence. This is a classic fairy tale with a twist performed with passion and character. Listeners will know it's a take on "Cinderella," but must follow the magical path to discover, like the slipper, how it will all fit. B.J.P. © AudioFile 2001, Portland, Maine [Published: FEB/MAR 01]