THE CHAPERONE

In 1922 a teenager from Kansas named Louise Brooks needed a chaperone so she could attend a summer dance school in New York. For private reasons, Cora Carlisle, a wife and mother of grown children, volunteered to watch over the willful girl. Actress Elizabeth McGovern's soft-spoken performance is utterly entrancing. Her careful use of emotion and mastery of expression pull listeners into this period piece about a young woman on the road to self-discovery and a girl on the brink of fame. McGovern's skills at creating distinctive characterizations, including a number of accents, make THE CHAPERONE an outstanding audio experience. Listeners will be fascinated by the historical details of life in New York, the plight of women, and the social customs of the Roaring Twenties. C.B.L. Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award © AudioFile 2012, Portland, Maine [Published: JUNE 2012]