THE YEAR WITHOUT MICHAEL

When 16-year-old Jody's brother Michael disappears without a trace on his way to visit his best friend, each family member reacts differently as the days stretch to weeks and months with no sign of him. Bresnahan's clear, young voice is perfectly suited to the character of Jody, and her subtle vocal differentiations for other characters work well also. It's a painful and emotional performance; the listener can hear the family's agony and frustration in the quavering voices on the verge of tears. The anguish of the family, outbursts of anger and loss of control are convincingly performed, drawing the listener into the highly charged, intense atmosphere. S.S.R. ©AudioFile, Portland, Maine [Published: DEC/JAN 99]