By: centraljersey.com
LAMBERTVILLE – Her name may not be as readily familiar, but C.J. Critt’s voice is a mainstay in audiobooks she has narrated for New York Times best-selling novelist Janet Evanovich.
For nearly two decades, Ms. Critt has lent her voice to a broad range of characters the author created for the hugely popular Stephanie Plum series. The skills Ms. Critt honed as an actor together with her sense of comedic timing, are a perfect fit for the slapstick adventures of the book’s heroine, as well as loveable characters Grandma Mazur, Lula, Joe Morelli and Ranger, just to name a few.
Ms. Critt will perform "The Voices of C.J. Critt" at the Lambertville Station for one performance only on Jan. 28.
Sponsored by the Kalmia Club of Lambertville, Ms. Critt will read excerpts from Ms. Evanovich’s novels as well as other characters she has developed for various projects over the years. The program will conclude with a question and answer segment.
Ms. Critt already had numerous national television commercials in her repertoire and had performed at the footlights of Broadway when an acquaintance told her she might consider using her acting credentials to garner work recording audiobooks.
In the years that followed, Ms. Critt has narrated audiobooks for about 20 authors, representing more than 150 titles and a cadre of characters. The first author for whom she recorded a book was Linda Barnes ("Steel Guitar, A Trouble of Fools, Cold Case"). Other authors include Patricia Cornwell, Joan Hess, Margaret Maron, Anne Tyler and Mary Higgins Clark.
For experienced narrators, it takes about two hours to record every hour of audio, Ms. Critt said. A novel of 300 pages, for example, would take about 22 hours of recordings to yield between 11 and 12 hours of audio.
"You are expected to read at performance level from page one. That said, you have to be well prepared ahead of time," Ms. Critt said, noting there is a lot of competition for jobs. Only about 2 percent of those who audition will find work in the industry, she said.
Ms. Critt, whose full name is Carol Jane Crittenden, has been married for 21 years to fellow performance artist David May. The couple met in New York City as young actors on a quest for work. They now reside in Dallas, Texas, where Mr. May is a staff writer for Radio Disney.
Once in the studio, Ms. Critt said it is typically just her and a recording technician, not a production staff as one might expect.
"The better studios usually have one person just looking over the words to make sure you stay on track," she said. "The ideal is to have a seamless performance."
That’s where Ms. Critt’s experience as an actor is incomparable. Within the context of a single paragraph or scene, she may be required to jockey among multiple characters and then back to her "narrator neutral" voice. "For most that would be hard to do, but it takes skill."
To keep her voice in shape, Ms. Critt said she’s sure to get the rest she needs, consumes plenty of water and tea and takes vitamins, such as B12 and zinc, "which is good for clearing mucus."
On days she is in the studio, Ms. Critt said she’ll avoid such things as coffee "because it make the stomach rumble" and dairy products because it produces phlegm, which would impact the quality of the finished product. Ms. Critt’s visit to Lambertville is well timed.
"One for the Money," one of the first novels Ms. Evanovich wrote in the Stephanie Plum series, is set to make its movie debut in July. Actress Katherine Heigl will appear on the big screen as the movie’s heroine.
The backdrop for Ms. Evanovich’s satirical mysteries is the Chambersburg section of Trenton – the city’s Italian neighborhood that also is referred to as the "Burg." Ms. Evanovich grew up in South River, about 30 miles north of Trenton.
Anyone familiar with Chambersburg will identify such local institutions as the Italian Peoples Bakery that is incorporated into Ms. Evanovich’s novels. The bakery appears in the thinly veiled form of the fictional Tasty Pastry Shop.
Though a majority of filming for the upcoming movie took place in Pittsburgh, Pa., the creators went to great lengths to accurately represent Chambersburg in the feature film. Scenes from the emergency room at St. Francis Medical Center and Roma Bank, both on Hamilton Avenue, will be recreated in the movie version.
Ms. Critt got a tour of Chambersburg for the first time a few years ago when she was visiting a friend in Princeton. Likewise, after 16 years of recording her novels, Ms. Critt recently had an opportunity to meet Ms. Evanovich.
"We’ve e-mailed," Ms. Critt said, "and she’s always given me a nice sense of recognition, but we never met until recently."
As the youngest of four siblings growing up in Lake Oswego, Ore., Ms. Critt said she always aspired to be an actor. After graduating from the American Academy of Dramatic Arts, she made her way to New York City where she found work doing commercials.
Early in her career, Ms. Critt portrayed the part of the "clean mom" in a Whisk commercial that made "ring around the collar" a national obsession.
Ms. Critt also played the part of the big toe in a commercial for Isotoner slippers, she recalled with a laugh.
"I feel lucky to be doing what I’m doing," Ms. Critt said. "I feel lucky to get to do creative things and people enjoy them."
Tickets for the program are $20 per person and must be reserved in advance by contacting Kalmia Club, 397-2537, or via e-mail, [email protected].
The event starts at 7 p.m. in the Riverside Room at the Lambertville Station Inn, 11 Bridge St. Cash bar will be available. Seating is limited.

