VACLAV & LENA

Kirby Heyborne’s Russian accents and phrasing convincingly portray the awkward American expressions of 10-year-old immigrant Vaclav. Vaclav dreams of becoming a magician, with his best friend, Lena, as his lovely assistant. Lena, also an immigrant, shyly struggles with language and a difficult home situation, which is only partly relieved by Vaclav’s loving family and the fun of practicing their magic. Then, when her guardian dies, Lena disappears from Vaclav’s life, but he never forgets her. Seven years later, they’re reunited. Rebecca Lowman’s softer, clipped delivery depicts Lena at 17 as she tries to fill in her missing memories about the sudden death of her guardian. Heyborne’s unaccented portrayal of the older Vaclav is loaded with emotion. S.W. © AudioFile 2011, Portland, Maine [Published: JULY 2011]