ALL THE LIVING

At a settlement school in Kentucky, orphaned Aloma discovered a passion for playing piano and dreamed of becoming a concert pianist. At age 18 she has little experience of family when she decides to move to a remote farm to help her boyfriend after his parents’ sudden death. Julia Gibson portrays Aloma’s sexual and romantic excitement and then her disappointment when Orren, grieved and confused, becomes silent and withdrawn. Gibson reflects the lovers' strained interactions, Aloma's hurt, and her subsequent flirtation with a young minister. Gibson's dramatizations help listeners understand frustrations and sorrows that even the protagonists don't fully recognize. Gibson's portrayals aptly reflect the difficulties involved in creating a strong, loving relationship despite an underdeveloped sense of self. S.W. © AudioFile 2009, Portland, Maine [Published: JUNE 2009]