GOODBYE TO BERLIN

Michael York takes full and brilliant command of these connected short stories, originally published in 1939, which were later adapted into the musical CABARET. York played the Isherwood character in the film version and would, of course, be familiar with the stories? setting, and atmosphere. Yet his preparation is far more than a once-starring role. He makes the script his personal property as he reads these tales about down-at-the-heels Berliners and expatriate Brits and Americans. The scene is 1930s Berlin; as Communists and Nazis pursue power in the waning days of the Weimar Republic, none of the principal characters perceive what is in store for them. York is the master of every voice--male or female, any nationality. His pacing is flawless, never too fast or too slow, as he revels in the tension of the stories without overacting. We are carried along at the pace that Isherwood would have wanted with York as the perfect vehicle. R.E.K. Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award © AudioFile 2005, Portland, Maine [Published: APR/MAY 05]