THE GOOSE GIRL

Ani, the Princess of Kildenree, is a character in the Cinderella tradition, but her story of betrayal, strength, and resilience has several twists. When her handmaiden, Celia, plots to replace her--the resulting deception, stolen identity, and danger transform Ani into The Goose Girl. This counterpoint experience teaches her about loyalty, friendship, and eventually, love. A note of warning: The occasional violence and cruelty to animals urge caution for young listeners. Cynthia Bishop as the narrator and Erika Lustig as Princess Ani give especially good performances in this full-cast production, and musical cues add a nice accompaniment. The only distraction is the "voice" given to inanimate objects, such as the wind, which overstretches the plot. L.H. 2007 Audies Award Winner © AudioFile 2006, Portland, Maine [Published: APR/ MAY 06]