HEADLONG

British playwright Michael Frayn's ability to set a scene is finely tuned, and he sets this stage for art historian Martin Clay's obsession with a lost Brueghel masterpiece. Stephen Crossley is our brilliant host, delivering a first-person reflection that is articulate, self-deprecating, sad, hilarious, and introspective. The story may offer more than most people want to know about fifteenth-century Dutch painting and culture, but students of art history will be enthralled. Crossley's performance is well worth the time as he masterfully balances the ludicrous scheme and its results with Frayn's astute writing. Crossley never lets the characterizations get away from him and delivers Frayn's amusing blend of satire. R.F.W. © AudioFile 2001, Portland, Maine [Published: OCT/ NOV 01]