CALLING UKRAINE

Dan Bittner lets humor slip subtly into his narration as he describes the problems at the call center where Turner, an American, is working in Ukraine as elections bring Volodymyr Zelensky into office. Bittner's mimicry re-creates the center's calls believably and gives Turner a calm voice as he handles the callers' problems. Bittner's voice drops in volume as Turner first shares his attraction for his colleague Natalia. As the story progresses, Bittner illuminates the hidden meanings in their exchanges. Listeners learn about Natalia's personal situation along with Turner, which creates a foreboding mood. Bittner is also adept at switching point of view as the story sheds light on the characters' actions and creates surprising plot twists. J.A.S. © AudioFile 2023, Portland, Maine [Published: MAY 2023]