THE SHORTEST DAY

It's not easy presenting productions of the Christmas Revels in Cambridge (Massachusetts) when your crazed husband is murdering all the men in the cast who pay you a little admiring attention. The listener knows who the murderer is, what the motive is and who is marked to be the next victim. This is not so much a classic mystery as a psychological study of the town and gown folk who populate Harvard Square and celebrate the ancient rituals surrounding the winter solstice. Kate Reading has a sweet, distinctive voice for Sarah, our stage director heroine, but gives up on trying to differentiate most of the others. This solid recording will be enjoyed, especially in communities where celebrating the Christmas Revels has become a popular holiday tradition. D.L.G. ©AudioFile, Portland, Maine [Published: NOV/DEC 96]