THE PRINCE AND THE PAUPER

Twain’s classic story of the poor street urchin who changes places with Edward Tudor, Prince of Wales, and almost ends up being king is brought to life by Steve West’s wonderful performance. His smooth delivery flows easily through the flowery, unfamiliar syntax of the King’s English, engaging the listener in a way the printed word cannot. Skillfully balancing the humor, pathos, and social commentary threaded throughout the story, he delivers stern lessons on the hypocrisy of Tudor England’s social hierarchy and barbaric justice system that are couched in often laugh-out-loud humor. The listener comes away with an appreciation for Twain’s ability to shine a light on human foibles and show us a way forward. N.E.M. © AudioFile 2013, Portland, Maine [Published: APRIL 2013]