Chekhov’s complex drama about the fate of an aristocratic family in free fall is brought to life wonderfully by director Jenny Sullivan and an impressive cast that includes Tessa Thompson as Irina, Jennifer Westfeldt as Masha, and Sarah Zimmerman as Olga. The cast maintains its enthusiasm and energy throughout the production. Although listeners may initially find it challenging to distinguish voices and names without visual queues, this is easily overcome thanks to the quality of the performance and its distinctively rendered characters. Performed live, this audiobook includes audience laughter and sounds from the stage, which elevate the listening experience and highlight the theatrical nature of the production. The cast members are not standing in recording booths and reading into microphones—they have an audience engaged in their performance, and this sparks the listener’s imagination. (Aug.)