Red Carpets and Other Banana Skins
by Rupert Everett
Published by Hachette Audio
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Reviewed by Sara A. Baker
(This memoir also available as a book--see our review)
Judging by his performances in An Ideal Husband and My Best Friend's Wedding, Rupert Everett seems like the kind of actor who is always holding court in his trailer, surrounded by a gaggle of makeup artists and lesser-known actors. Picture champagne flowing, strings of lights sparkling, and laughter ringing, and you've pretty much got it. So his autobiography was bound to be entertaining if not hilarious, and the audio version--read by the actor himself--even more of a romp.
The audio book Red Carpets and Other Banana Skins succeeds on every count. Everett is at turns delightfully droll, surprisingly thoughtful, and deliciously wicked. His account of his early childhood in England could conjure up a longing for drafty old farmhouses and wellies in even the most decidedly American among us. His entrance into theatre life at boarding school is classic, and his escapades in the theatre world are full of both anticipation and struggle. And that's all before he's gotten to the forlorn heat of Miami and the juicy gossip that surrounds Hollywood.
Whether speaking wistfully of his youth in the countryside or revealing Sharon Stone's wackiness, Everett is engaging and candid. His voice is smooth as silk, and his tone--from the hint of sarcasm and blush of sorrow to the swell of humor--is always perfect. The combination of Everett's vivid descriptions, complete with spot-on metaphors--and his all-knowing voice allows him to recreate scenes of his life as clearly as if they were playing on a movie screen.
Finally, the playful violin with just a touch of melancholy at the beginning and end of the recording give the reading just the right punctuation. The whole piece feels somewhat like a good Irish wake, celebrating the ups and downs of a life well lived. Slide it into the CD player, add your favorite cocktail, and enjoy.
Armchair Interviews says: Fun story, well read by the man himself.