TURN-ONS AND TURN-OFFS IN CURRENT HOME ENTERTAINMENT RELEASES : Excellent Good Fair Poor : AUDIOCASSETTES

“Les Miserables” by Victor Hugo. Read by Christopher Cazenove. Newman/Dove (two cassettes, abridged). Reducing Hugo’s massive masterpiece to just under three hours’ listening time is abridgement indeed. Remarkably, adapters Timothy Helgeson and Holly Sklar manage to preserve not only the story lines and a large population of characters but also a sense of Hugo’s vigorous style as it survives and shines through translation. The reading by Cazenove (Ben Carrington on “Dynasty”) is lively, ingratiating and clear, even in conversational exchanges (always tough in solo readings). A potent teaser for the book itself, or a warm-up for the new musical. Information: (800) 345-9945.