PEYTON PLACE

Peyton Place immediately brings to mind steamy scenes of illicit passion in a coastal Maine village: the ultimate soap opera of the 1950s. Metalious's original novel, however, presents a clear and insightful look at family relationships, personal growth and failures, and coming of age in a New Hampshire town. Tim O'Connor's detached but affectionate interpretation brings to mind Our Town or It's a Wonderful Life. O'Connor doesn't perform a production as much as tell a story, with gentleness and compassion. His scholarly reading of editor Ardis Cameron's commentary on the last two tapes fits the book perfectly, bringing historical perspective to the hysteria surrounding the book's publication. Extensive interludes of music from the period separate the book's major sections, completing the production perfectly. R.P.L. Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award (c) AudioFile 2002, Portland, Maine [Published: AUG/SEP 02]