The Golden Bowl

The St. Charles Players enliven this typical Henry James tale of an American father and daughter navigating through very sticky British relationships. The pomp and snobbery of James's work play out complete with sound effects, such as crackling fires, braying horses, and a different actor for each character. Surprisingly, these effects enhance the overall presentation, adding color to the predictable and intricate plot line. The varied performers artfully weave this story of complicated relationships and social mores, with its symbolism of the cracked golden bowl, into a fresh story. Where James can be tiresome and mired in heavy text, the St. Charles Players bring air and light into his weighty prose and stifling English gentry. H.L.S. (c) AudioFile 2002, Portland, Maine


Award-winning actress Juliet Stevenson guides the listener through the complex social world and moral ambiguity of this convoluted story. Maggie Verver's upcoming marriage to Prince Amerigo seems perfect. Just before Maggie and he are to wed, Amerigo's good friend and former lover, Charlotte, comes back into his life for a brief shopping trip for a wedding present. Even though Charlotte and Maggie have been friends since childhood, Maggie, strangely, has no idea of Charlotte's intimate connection to Amerigo and happily sets her up with Mr. Verver, Maggie's father. Stevenson gracefully guides the listener through the various emotional outbursts, possibly infidelity, and subtle miscommunications. Stevenson carefully balances James's comedic and sometimes tragic timing in a performance that feels effortless to the listener. V.B. � AudioFile 2019, Portland, Maine