TALKING IT OVER

This tour de force of alternating monologues tells the story of Stuart, who marries Gillian; of his clever and nasty best friend, Oliver, who can't believe Stuart should be so lucky and quickly decides that, actually, he must have Gillian himself; and of course, of Gillian, who is in the middle. Each of these characters talks in turn to an unknown listener: explaining, excusing, blaming, protesting, rejoicing, regretting. It's an essentially theatrical, rather than narrative, exercise. And wonderfully, instead of having it read to us, Chivers has cast three impeccable actors, Steven Pacey, Alex Jennings, and Clare Higgins to play with and against each other, and there isn't a false note anywhere. A wonderful performance. B.G. (c) AudioFile 2002, Portland, Maine [Published: APR/MAY 02]