FIDDLER ON THE MAKE

James Bryce delivers a comic, crude, and clever tale about a Scottish country town that is undergoing gentrification. As commuters and civil service retirees move in, there to fleece and charm them is Jigger McCloud, a canny, lovable scoundrel with an eccentric family, who more or less runs the community. Bryce brings these quirky Scots to life. Through his vivid portrayals we see the doddering duke, the pig keeper, the gangster, the granny on a moped, and many other rustics. Bryce's strong, compelling voice lets us enjoy all their shenanigans and ploys. While some of the slang and references may be unfamiliar to Americans, listeners will still enjoy this humorous story. D.L.G. © AudioFile 2009, Portland, Maine [Published: NOVEMBER 2009]