Must You Go?

Sandra Duncan and Gareth Armstrong weave an alluring spell with their narration of Antonia Fraser's memoir of her life with playwright Harold Pinter. Duncan infuses her reading with the intimacy and affection one would use with a close confidant, thus beguiling one into believing that it is Fraser herself sharing her reminiscences. Armstrong's recital of Pinter's poetry completes the perception of admittance to the couple's private sphere. Fans of Fraser's or Pinter's work will delight in the details of their creative processes and family life, and those unfamiliar will discover new literary territory. Both Duncan's and Armstrong's performances suit the material perfectly and present us with a lovely portrait of an extraordinary relationship. K.O. (c) AudioFile 2011, Portland, Maine