CHARLIE AND THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY

Charlie Bucket’s weird and wonderful adventures after finding a Golden Ticket in his Whipple-Scrumptious Fudgmallow Delight have entertained generations of children (and inspired two big screen adaptations). Eric Idle, of the Monty Python comedy troupe, fits like chocolate in a mold as he reads Roald Dahl’s classic tale of a poor boy’s visit to a fantastical candy factory. Idle becomes the munchie mogul Willy Wonka as he brings his nimble vocal talents to this novel. There are times when Idle is perhaps too nimble, particularly when he modulates his volume, rising from a quiet whisper to an ear-piercing yell. Haven’t the directors heard of volume normalization or a stage whisper? The CD version is labeled as an enhanced CD, but the only enhancements are links to a Roald Dahl Web site and Harper Audio’s own home page. Quibbles aside, listeners of all ages will find Charlie to be a delicious treat. S.E.S. © AudioFile 2005, Portland, Maine [Published: AUG/SEP 05]