THE HOUSE IS ON FIRE

Beanland's audiobook is perfect for a full-cast production, and its strong performances are consistently gripping. In 1811, a fire destroyed the Richmond Theatre in Virginia, killing more than 70 people. Stagehand error and hubris were at fault, but local enslaved people were blamed. Four characters are featured in alternating passages: Jack (Michael Crouch), a stagehand and aspiring actor; Sally (Andi Arndt), an audience member who tends to the injured; Gilbert (Ruffin Prentiss), an enslaved blacksmith who risks his own life and freedom to save lives; and Cecily (Joniece Abbott-Pratt), his niece, who may be able to use the fire to procure her own freedom. These excellent performances enhance this riveting story of tragedy, systemic racism, and sexism. S.P.C. © AudioFile 2023, Portland, Maine [Published: MAY 2023]