HOLD, PLEASE Stage Managing a Pandemic

There are many reasons to love this long, important audiobook. One big reason is author/narrator Richard Hester's excellent delivery. Another is the memoir's intrinsic value to contemporary American history. During the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic, while we were all in a state of fear and confusion, Hester was taking notes. An observant recorder, the Broadway stage manager wrote daily from March 2020 through April 2021, providing statistics and commentary reflecting the growing number of cases and deaths in New York City. These essays remind us of the early mixed messages, including the Trump administration's mishandling of information and misleading of the public. Hester quotes many of Trump's outrageous statements and marvels at the public's unwillingness to believe Dr. Fauci and science. S.J.H. Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award © AudioFile 2023, Portland, Maine [Published: JANUARY 2023]