THE WITCHES

The young narrator in this story, who's been warned about witches by his Grandmamma, ends up at a hotel where the witches of England are holding their convention. Dahl reveals his dark side here. His description of the witches' hatred for children makes one's blood run cold; in Dahl's story, once you are turned into a mouse, you stay a mouse. Lynn Redgrave is in her element with this tale, dramatizing all the characters and their varied voices, from Norwegian Grandmamma to the Grand High Witch. Redgrave doesn't hit a wrong note, and she's particularly good at bringing alive the voices of children without ever sounding condescending. J.C.G. © AudioFile 2006, Portland, Maine [Published: AUG/ SEP 06]