Horns and Wrinkles

In a story reminiscent of "Pinocchio," young Duke's misdeeds cause him to be cursed with a growing horn of a nose, which can only be cured by an act of kindness. Though reluctant, his cousin Claire agrees to help Duke out of his predicament, and the adventure deepens with spells, trolls, and mystifying events. Though the tale is imaginative, this performance lacks a sense of progression. One could mix up the discs and not have any sense of the story being out of order. Possibly it's Jessica Almasy's pacing or lack of variation in pitch that contributes to a feeling of slogging through. In any case, this production has a sameness that wears thin. M.H.N. (c) AudioFile 2007, Portland, Maine