OXYGEN

In a routine surgery a young child dies on the operating table. Afterwards, anesthesiologist Marie Heaton watches as her well-constructed life begins to unravel. Jennifer Ikeda creates a tone of compassion and professionalism in Heaton that hints at her strength of character and conviction in her skills, even while she becomes increasingly full of doubt about what actually occurred. As Heaton becomes less self-sufficient and more absorbed in the events around her, Ikeda maintains an air of subtle distraction and an undertone of stress that finds its way into her dealings with her sister's family. This mood is interrupted temporarily when Heaton grudgingly attempts a reconciliation with her ailing father. J.E.M. © AudioFile 2008, Portland, Maine [Published: DECEMBER 2008]