GIVE A DOG A NAME

Quiet countryside, rolling farmland, hard-working villagers--sounds idyllic, doesn’t it? Throw in adultery, animal abuse, plus the tabloid press and you’ve got the makings of a good mystery. However, the lead character’s slow speech, which echoes his physically challenged status, gives the story a plodding, stuttering feel. Douglas’s attempts to differentiate the female voices fail, but he succeeds with the males. The production is unadorned and delivered in a straightforward monotone. All in all, while the story is neither gripping nor riveting, it keeps listeners mildly interested and curious until the end. A.G.H. © AudioFile 2000, Portland, Maine [Published: JUN/JUL 00]