The Magic World

In this delightful collection of fantasies, the listener is introduced to the formal milieu of Victorian England, then whisked away to a series of fantastic worlds. Sadly, this reading fails to exploit the dramatic possibilities of these flights of fancy in the tradition of Alice. The varied moods created in each story are bland and indistinguishable. Ward's presence is conspicuous; her flat tone is barely concealed by inconsistent and unconvincing accent changes. This overly journalistic performance leaves the audience all too firmly rooted in reality, far from the magic world envisioned by the author. B.M.W. (c)AudioFile, Portland, Maine