THE CUTTING SEASON

William Faulkner said, “The past is never dead. It’s not even past.” This adage comes alive as the outstanding reading of this literary mystery brings to life the ironies, complexities, and parallels between the Antebellum past and current times. Set on a restored Louisiana plantation, the story addresses themes of race and class using a framework of two murders committed a century apart. Quincy Tyler Bernstine’s accomplished stage presence lets listeners feel the protagonist’s fear as she approaches the restored slave quarters her ancestors inhabited, the love in her voice as she talks to her daughter, and the condescension in the voice of the plantation owner as he addresses her. The strong narration and breadth of the story combine for unique glimpses into the depth of the human condition. M.L.R. © AudioFile 2012, Portland, Maine [Published: OCTOBER 2012]