THE BONFIRE OF THE VANITIES

This new production of Tom Wolfe's masterpiece of social and political satire, set in the upwardly mobile 1980s, is oddly prescient when it comes to the recent financial meltdown. Narrator Joe Barrett sends shivers up the spine in his portrayal of Sherman McCoy, a "Master of the Universe" who comes to control millions in investments with a single throwaway decision. Accents roll off Barrett's tongue, but it's the irony and pathos of McCoy's plight that create an emotional response in the reader. At times dated and quaint, Wolfe’s “Bonfire” still burns bright with wit, mastery of plot and character, and an astonishing eye for detail. Take a trip down memory lane with Barrett as he navigates every emotion on the spectrum. R.O. 2010 Audies Finalist © AudioFile 2009, Portland, Maine [Published: JULY 2009]