WHEN THE LION FEEDS

This South African epic of the late nineteenth century reads like an American Western. The vivid, macho yarn-spinning occasionally gives a gracious nod to more refined things. Steven Crossley takes it in stride. His performance leans toward restraint, rather than flamboyance, but is well focused and beautifully paced. His character voices aren't very subtle or varied, nor are the characters, but they speak with conviction. J.N. (c) AudioFile 2002, Portland, Maine [Published: APR/MAY 02]