THE TRANSIT OF VENUS

Juliet Stevenson's voice in this production is like a spa tub, soothing and stimulating at the same time. The fact that she is narrating a masterpiece will keep listeners from being soothed to inattention. THE TRANSIT OF VENUS does have some astronomy in the background, but it is mostly a study of many of the forms of love, focused on the inhabitants of an English country house, beginning one summer in the 1950s and following them for the next three decades. Stevenson embodies all the major characters through voices and accents, and develops their emotions and growth with great empathy. Most of the action is internal to the characters, and in this performance it is absolutely riveting. D.M.H. Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award © AudioFile 2024, Portland, Maine [Published: AUGUST 2024]