THE GARDEN PARTY

Narrator Bernadette Dunne has 19 adults and 6 children to differentiate in this ambitious homage to MRS. DALLOWAY, all without benefit of the seating plan with character notes that print readers can turn to when confusion strikes. The organizing principle is the day and evening of a rehearsal dinner that brings two very different families together. Lacking a centrifugal character like Mrs. Dalloway, this is more a jumble of unrelated dilemmas and mismatched personalities briefly juxtaposed than a coherently plotted novel, yet it offers many pleasures. Dunne's performance is full of color, intelligence, and asperity. Mazur fails to clear the very high bar she has set for herself, but wonderful writing makes it well worthwhile to watch her, and Dunne, fling themselves at it. B.G. © AudioFile 2018, Portland, Maine [Published: SEPTEMBER 2018]