HALFHYDE AND THE ADMIRAL

Here we have a hilarious romp of prudes, charlatans, irascible characters, and persons more idealistic than is good for them. As the age of the sailing ship is drawing to a close, Lieutenant St. Vincent Halfhyde takes on the task of transporting to Chile a vain foreign officer, a meek Church cleric, a bombastic widow, and an uptight Scotland Yard inspector. The admiral of the tale is a querulous British loudmouth now in service with the Chileans. Christopher Scott differentiates all the characters through intonation, exaggerating every nuance suggested by the author. Particularly delightful is Scott's rendition of Caroline Penn, Halfhyde's irrepressible Aussie mistress. Great fun. D.R.W. © AudioFile 2005, Portland, Maine [Published: JUNE/JULY 05]