THE BUTCHER BOY

Conor Mullen has such exquisite diction that, despite his rich Irish accent, we understand every word. Conditioned by movies and recent fiction to look for a happy ending, the listener will shake his head with disbelief and mutter, "When's Francie going to turn the corner? When's this boy going to stumble on the right teacher, the right book, girl or job?" But Francie Brady has a father who loves the stout and a mother who needs to go to the "garage" for repairs. He manages to keep up an appearance of bravado and even a grotesque cheerfulness. Still he loses every battle, including those fought with his own deadly impulses. B.H.C. © AudioFile, Portland, Maine [Published: AUG/SEP 99]