PARADISE

Narrators Medalion Rahimi and Jeff Marlow capture the complex relationship between a shy, intense, and extremely intelligent 17-year-old Muslim student and her high school science teacher. She draws him out of his middle-aged doldrums into a swirl of excitement and discovery as they work to design an experiment that will measure the effects of love on the teenage body and mind. The production is part of L.A. Theatre Works' science-themed Relativity Series. The well-written dialogue seamlessly jumps from hope and trepidation to faith, politics, and culture. But it's the sound of trust, friendship, and sacrifice in the actors' voices that makes this production a standout. Compelling contemporary theater. B.P. Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award © AudioFile 2021, Portland, Maine [Published: DECEMBER 2021]