Light Fantastic: Adventures in Theatre

Light Fantastic: Adventures in Theatre
ISBN-10
0385315465
ISBN-13
9780385315463
Series
Light Fantastic
Category
Biography & Autobiography / Entertainment & Performing Arts
Pages
381
Language
English
Published
1996
Publisher
Dial Press
Author
John Lahr

Description

A timeless collection of essays about the theatre by the celebrated biographer and drama critic at "The New Yorker,"


Theatre criticism, writes John Lahr in his introduction to "Light Fantastic," should conjure "the life of the theatre as well as the life of the play. We are in danger of losing our theatre culture; and these essays are my little rear-guard action to keep the public gaze focused on the lively language and maverick thoughts of theatricals--performers, playwrights, directors, designers--who are the abstracts and brief chronicles of the time.'"


Most of the essays to be found in this, Lahr's first collection, come from "The New Yorker," where Lahr has been drama critic since 1992. Here, the reader will find over forty pieces that represent Lahr's remarkable knowledge of theatrical and cultural history, his astute observations about comics (Roseanne Barr, Peter Cook, Bill Hicks), playwrights (Oscar Wilde, Tennessee Williams, Tony Kushner, Arthur Miller, Neil Simon, Tom Stoppard), composers (Stephen Sondheim, George and Ira Gershwin, Julie Styne), and directors (George C. Wolfe, Ingmar Bergman, Peter Brook). Most particularly, however, these wide-ranging essays showcase Lahr's unique insight into human nature that has made him an acclaimed, bestselling biographer on both sides of the Atlantic.

Other editions

Similar books

  • Lady Sings the Blues
    By Billie Holiday, William Dufty

    In a poignant, dramatic memoir, Billie Holiday tells not only of her rise to fame as a blues singer, but also of the exploitation and racial prejudice she encountered as well as of her struggle with heroin addiction.

  • The Great American Popular Singers
    By Henry Pleasants

    ... Judy , 343 Knight , Fuzzy , 283 Koehler , Ted , 28 Kristofferson , Kris , 354 , 369 , 370 Krupa , Gene , 146 Jackson , Jeanette , 200 Jackson , Mahalia , 30 , 75 , 198 , 199– 203 , 205–12 , 265 , 276 , 320 , 325 , 326 , 364 Jagger ...

  • A Biographical Handbook of Hispanics and United States Film
    By Gary D. Keller

    ... II , 93 Kolb , Keith , I , 198 Korda , Alexander , II , 69 Kosloff , Theodore , I , 76 ; II , 76 Kotero , Apollonia , II , 93 Kramer , Stanley , I , 128 , 136 , 187 ; II , 161 Krantz , Jacob , see Cortez , Ricardo Kristofferson ...

  • Bogey: The Films of Humphrey Bogart
    By Clifford McCarty

    Norman Holdsworth Charles Drake Dr. Grant Grant Mitchell Detective Lt. Egan Patrick O'Moore Nora Grant Ann Shoemaker Robert Freston Frank Wilcox Phillips Edwin Stanley Detective Lt. Workman James Flavin Mrs. Allman Mary Servoss With ...

  • Robert Altman: Interviews
    By Robert Altman

    ... 98 Gods Must Be Crazy , The ( Uys ) , 174 Goldberg , Whoopi , 165 , 174 Goldblum , Jeff , 186 Golden Globe Awards ... 58 , 183 Hale , Alan , 3 Hall , Angela , 165 Hammett , Dashiell , 199 Hand That Rocks the Cradle , The ( Hanson ) ...

  • Wong Kar-Wai: Auteur of Time
    By Stephen Teo

    This, the first book-length study of Hong Kong cult director Wong Kar-wai, provides an overview of his career and in-depth analyses of his seven feature films to date.

  • An Actor, and a Rare One: Peter Cushing as Sherlock Holmes
    By Tony Earnshaw

    After the inquest , Holmes speaks with Inspector Lanner and Miss Turner . Lanner sees no hope for McCarthy , but Holmes thinks differently . He quizzes Miss Turner on her relationship with McCarthy , and she reveals they had hoped to ...

  • The Complete Films of Marlene Dietrich
    By Homer Dickens

    Through a clever bit of business , the boys put over a big deal with a steel tycoon named Morgan Prentiss ( Samuel S. Hinds ) , and soon Pittsburgh has gone highbrow by marrying the boss's daughter Shannon ( Louise Allbritton ) .

  • Peter Jackson: A Film-maker's Journey
    By Brian Sibley

    Written with Jackson's full participation, this extensive biography, illustrated with never-before-seen photos from Jackson's personal collection, tells the inside story of how a New Zealander became Hollywood's hottest property?from the ...

  • 卓别林
    By 孙鹏著

    本书主要内容包括:童年时光;初次登台;不安定的日子;舞蹈班的一员;艰难时日;初露锋芒;奔波在卡诺;第一次出国等。