SECRET HEART

"Only Maloney" is the object of jeers and gobs of spit, ever outside the circle in the sleepy English village of Helmouth. He has only a single friend, Stanny Mole, until the blue circus tent arrives with its largely unwelcome population of wasters, tramps, and thieves, who take him in. Graeme Malcolm's delivery, a perfect match for the demanding text, alternates between simple declarative statements that sink low at the end of every line and Joe's dreamy puzzlement. Malcolm manages Joe's stumbling, stuttering tongue with an agility that causes the listener to squirm while also bringing to life a cast of unique individuals. The fine line between fantasy and reality lends a thrilling air to the reading. T.B. © AudioFile 2003, Portland, Maine [Published: APR/MAY 03]