SONS AND LOVERS

The joy and hope with which Gertrude Morel begins her marriage quickly deteriorates into anger and disillusionment, then blossoms again years later with the growth of her children. Paul Slack's understated performance showcases Lawrence's brilliant use of irony and his masterful portrayal of the Morel family. The production's low volume at the beginning of the book will have some listeners reaching for the volume control, but one soon becomes accustomed to the somber tone. While Slack lightens his voice for female characters and roughens it for some of the men, the effect is always minimal, staying out of the way of the story itself. Some works may be enhanced by an audio performance, but transparency works better for this one, and Slack achieves exactly that. R.L.L. © AudioFile 2008, Portland, Maine [Published: SEPTEMBER 2008]