NICHOLAS NICKLEBY

Here is a book so long that the National Theater of Great Britain's acclaimed stage version consumed two entire evenings. Purists will detest this mere three-hour abridgment, thus denying themselves the enormous pleasure of hearing the brilliant Martin Jarvis do his stuff. In addition to the usual Dickensian melodrama, NICKLEBY gives us an affectionate view of the theatre, where the title character finds his niche in life, and its many fascinating characters. Even those of us in the biz who otherwise dislike Dickens love this book. Jarvis makes a star turn of it, by virtue of his deep understanding of the material, his fecund imagination, his immense vocal range and his refusal to fall back on cliché. Only Miriam Margolyes can hold a candle to him as a Dickens interpreter, and no Dickensian opus provides more of a showcase for talents like theirs. Y.R. Winner of AUDIOFILE Earphones Award ©AudioFile, Portland, Maine [Published: JUN/JUL 99]