THE OLD CURIOSITY SHOP

This BBC production of Dickens' evergreen tearjerker could benefit from Callow's showmanship and understanding. It exemplifies the generic house style of the London studios in the 1970's and '80's, as opposed to some of the more contemporary and dynamic work being done at the time in the Beeb's regional operations. Competent but superficial, efficiently adapted and performed, deficient in personality, enjoyable if not first rate. Y.R. ©AudioFile, Portland, Maine [Published: AUG/SEP 98]