ETHAN FROME

Edith Wharton's fateful tale of a farmer torn between his bitter, conniving wife and his vibrant, young cousin, between duty and fulfillment, sometimes shows its age. Richard Thomas's performance is true to the source: Its strengths and weaknesses are those of the novel. Thomas's female voices are genuine because he does not attempt to sound like a woman. His New England accent--suggested rather than emphasized--likewise rings true. Most compellingly, his pauses during dialogue evoke a time when listeners allowed speakers to finish, and considered their answers before responding. Thomas's pauses conjure the stillness of the winter countryside and the distances between the characters. T.J.W. (c) AudioFile 2002, Portland, Maine [Published: APR/MAY 02]