THOSE PEARLY GATES

In the third installment of Cannon’s Homegrown series, Imogene and Loutishie follow Imo’s second husband, Reverend Lemuel Pettigrew, away from their beloved farm and into the parsonage of Calvary Baptist in Euharlee, Georgia. While Liz Morton’s portrayal of Loutishie is full of a teenager’s heart and yearning, Katie Firth’s syrupy portrayal as the overly optimistic Imo is grating. However, as Imo questions the faith that has sustained her in the past, Firth deepens her resonance and beautifully captures Imo’s confusion and frustration. These moments are worth the wait. Cannon’s likable characters face a double-dose of life’s tragedy with a grace that will leave listeners revitalized. D.J.P. © AudioFile 2006, Portland, Maine [Published: DEC 06/ JAN 07]