For such a simple premise, THE ROOT OF ALL EVIL delivers a nice dose of suspense.  This fact reveals how great writer Roy Winsor’s dialogue is and how quickly we grow to care about the characters.  I’m not familiar with much of Winsor’s work, but with the help of CBSRMT.com’s ability to cross-reference writers and actors, you can bet I’ll be checking out more of his plays.  As many reviewers note, great is the episode like EVIL which tests our own morality and forces us to ponder what we would do if put in the characters’ shoes.  Norman Rose’s is excellent as a Phil Chambers, a tormented everyman who finds $80,000 in cash he knows to be stolen in his basement.  Even in 1975 dollars $80,000 seems like a lot.  I’d wager it would be double or triple that sum today.  As reviewers Jerby and LT Wright highlight, Rose has such a distinctly deep and powerful voice, it’s impossible to not picture him as dark, dashing, and deeply charismatic.  For another dose of Rose’s charm, though in a decidedly more evil figure, check him out in the fantastic remake of Poe’s PIT AND THE PENDULUM.  Overall, EVIL delivers a captivating story of suspense and personal conflict occurring not in some extraordinary circumstances or remote universe but in our own neighborhood and in the house with the picket fence just down the street.  The concerned neighbors and Chambers’ wife all contribute stellar supporting roles, as do the bank robbers whose overarching deadly threats and ruthless fearlessness add even more suspense.  A bit random and even zany, the climax is certainly unexpected and strangely acceptable.  Sit back and find it hard to relax in this great outing by Radio Mystery Theater in THE ROOT OF ALL EVIL.  I give it 4 stars out of five – JUROR #4.