THE WATER BABIES

When background music surrounds you and a host of voices joins in the storytelling and singing, it is effortless to take the leap into the story world. In this full-cast presentation of Kingsley's nineteenth-century tale, the listener enters the oppressive world of chimney sweeps and poor apprentices, of fairies and underwater realms, of the end of the earth and the comforting, serene existence of the water babies, once hero Tom has come to the aid of his old enemy. The production is rich; the narrator is expressive and quick of pace. Tom is eager and full of wonderment; the fairy mothers, Mrs. Doasyouwouldbedoneby and Mrs. Bedonebyasyoudid, are elegant and mysterious as they wrap the listener in their stories. Music and voices fade in and out, bringing dimension to the events. A.R. © AudioFile 2009, Portland, Maine [Published: FEBRUARY 2009]