audacity startup fails stretch amd64

["Russell L. Carter" <rcarter@pinyon.org>]

Hi,
I am trying to launch audacity on a stretch amd64 system, and
the following happens:

1.  I get a popup with text "Audacity could not find a place to store
    temporary files.  Please enter an appropriate directory in the
    preferences dialog."

Click ok, then:

2.  An error popup appears stating: "AudioIO.cpp(2363): assert "false"
    failed in getPlayDevIndex()."  A backtrace is available but
    doesn't reveal anything obvious to me.

Click continue, then:

3.  An error popup appears stating: "AudioIO.cpp(2416): assert "false"
    failed in getRecordDevIndex()."

Continue then segfaults.

The googleman doesn't provide any clues.  Ideas?

Many thanks,
Russell