THE RED BOOK

An uber-educated circle of friends convenes for their 20th Harvard University reunion in a novel structured around a clever format. The university's class report, the Red Book, shares alumni autobiographical achievements every five years. But the Ivy League upbeat lives full of wit and irony described in the published pages diverge dramatically from the searing first-person accounts of faded dreams, professional struggles, great expectations, and deeper regrets. The characters are performed by an ensemble, each of whom shares nostalgia, disillusionment, history, triumphs, and downfalls. The performers frankly voice 20 years gone past, subtly altering tones and accents as they age, discard masks, and acknowledge emotional baggage and vast misconceptions. Distinct dialogue styles shift masterfully with each artful performance. A.W. © AudioFile 2012, Portland, Maine [Published: NOVEMBER 2012]