ZENI: DEAN OF THE DIAMOND

With a full cast led by Michael Sun Lee as the title character, this audio drama takes listeners to the Japanese-American internment camps of WWII. Zeni is a former baseball star who shares his beloved sport with his fellow detainees to give them a sense of purpose and dignity. The writing is occasionally clunky, and some of the acting is overly earnest, but there are compelling performances by newcomer Thomas Winter, as Zeni's alienated son, and by Rob Nagle, as the gentlemanly Coach Hank, who helps the residents of the nearby town overcome their prejudices. This is a high-quality production with sound effects, ambient crowd noises, and other textures that complement the performances. D.B. © AudioFile 2025, Portland, Maine [Published: MARCH 2025]