SOME KIND OF MIRACLE

Moira Driscoll's hushed voice gets a good story off to a slow start, but listeners who hang in through the first couple of tapes will be glad they did. A down-on-her-luck songwriter tries to stage a comeback through her schizophrenic cousin. Their separate journeys intertwine through paths of music, family history, and romantic love to daring destinations for each. While Driscoll's breathy narrative never lose its muzzy quality, her characterizations exhibit individualism and depth, particularly those of the two cousins. Her portrayal of a young child doesn't ring true, but this insignificant character matters little. Driscoll's compassion for complex people and situations saves the performance. R.P.L. (c) AudioFile 2004, Portland, Maine [Published: JUN/ JUL 04]