SENSE AND SENSIBILITY

Elinor Dashwood keeps both feelings and tongue in check; whereas, her dear younger sister, Marianne, is impulsive, spontaneous and emotional. The talented Julie Christie does a fine job with this abridgment of Austen's classic. Her portrayals of men are respectable although her female characterizations contain more variations and distinctions. Elinor's quiet determination contrasts nicely with Marianne's more passionate speech. Christie also captures the effusive Mrs. Jennings; the nervous, bubbly, yet insincere, Miss Steel; and the cold, haughty Mrs. John Dashwood. In spite of Christie's voice fading at sentence endings from time to time, her consistent performance successfully renders the characters' sensibilities and the sensible era in which they lived. J.H.B. ©AudioFile, Portland, Maine [Published: JUN 96]