PETER AND THE SWORD OF MERCY

In the fourth prequel to J.M. Barrie's classic PETER PAN, the boy who never grew up is not quite the flying superhero of memory (although he does rescue Wendy three times). This is a complex caper involving several grown-up Lost Boys, Captain Hook, Mollusk Island, the imprisoned Darling parents, mermaids, pirates, porpoises, steamships, flying trains, and a sword that could be the key to opening a magical cache of "star stuff." It’s an appealing tale, made more so by the voice of the amazing Jim Dale. Whether he's voicing dithering Uncle Neville or gruff Karl the Bear, Dale brings each character to life. He highlights the humor of Tinker Bell's snide asides to Peter and gives the evil Lord Ombra a whispery, sinister scariness that helps us understand Peter's fear. Dale's voice has its own Peter Pan quality, never aging and always ready to leap to a challenge. M.M.C. © AudioFile 2009, Portland, Maine [Published: DECEMBER 2009]