THE THRALL'S TALE

Seer Thorbjorg, slave Katla, and tormented Bibrau are an unusual trinity. Virginia Leishman adjusts her voice in distinctive ways to portray these women, as well as the rest of the large cast. Her pronunciation is delicate yet weaves around the sturdy Icelandic names and nouns. This is not a happy tale, and sometimes Leishman's voice is oddly bright for the tragedies that unfold. The impending sense of doom driven by the narrative is impossible to deny, even in the face of Leishman's well cadenced and lilting voice. Despite the relentless suffering of Katla, Leishman voices her so well that listening is irresistible, even in the darkest moments. R.F. © AudioFile 2006, Portland, Maine [Published: AUG/ SEP 06]