Like the legitimate theatre where an audience commits the willing suspension of disbelief, the invisible theatre of radio demands a commitment from listeners to create something greater in the space between "sent" and "received". But there's an obligation on the creator in the bargain, to set the scene -- physical, intellectual, emotional – into which they invite the audience.

"In Place and Out of Character", despite Will Sorrell's interspersed narration, seems "in character", but "out of place". The three vignettes deliver great personality on the part of the refugees, but the package isn't assembled in a way that ultimately inhabits a place with listeners.

The disconnect is a genetic legacy – these three 9-minute profiles were originally created to be accompanied by photographs and live theatre, in which milieu they would perform much differently.

Fine work by producer Emily Feder & crew, and wonderful audio, but somehow in this raw format it's not radio, it doesn't translate. There's not the storyline and direction we need to turn this from chatter on the subway to conversation from new real people we're meeting.

That said, Abibatu Hadiatu's segment has so much music in her words, it could nearly be played as song. And overall, the elements are professional and compelling enough that we can look forward expectantly to Feder's work produced specifically for broadcast.