AMERICAN APPETITES

In this elaborate combination of mystery, courtroom drama, searing social satire, and character study, Keith Carradine and B.J. Ward are exceptional at voicing the emotional layers of a successful couple, Professor Ian McCullough and his wife, Glynnis. Although they're the pillars of a prestigious academic institute and their small town's social scene, they find themselves set on a tragic course when the professor offers friendship and money to a troubled dance student. Nick Olcott's stand-out audio adaptation and sound design use short scenes, quick transitions, and musical interludes to capture the essence of Oates's fine sense of pace, ear for language, and eye for detail. The listener will hear the audience's reaction when the story takes off in an unexpected direction. Top-notch contemporary audio drama. B.P. © AudioFile 2014, Portland, Maine [Published: SEPTEMBER 2014]