CAPTAINS COURAGEOUS

Kipling's 1897 novel is set on the savage waters of the Grand Banks, where a millionaire's son is swept off an ocean liner and picked up by fishing schooner, whose crew teaches him about life at sea. John Chancer has his hands full with this challenging text, and he's not altogether successful, though there are flashes of very good work. In addition to the Gloucester salts, the crew includes an Irishman and a Portuguese fisherman. Chancer handles the accents with some skill, particularly the gruff captain, Disko Troop. Some of his other voices, however, are ill-chosen and whiny, and he misreads too many lines. It doesn't help that he's betrayed by some poor production quality. D.B. © AudioFile 2001, Portland, Maine [Published: JUN/JUL 01]