John Lahr describes the lives and careers of playwrights, directors and performers, providing a vivid backdrop to his critique of particular productions in this book of theatrical criticism, history and gossip. He also makes the reader feel present at the run-up to an opening night: in London with Dame Edna, with Tony Kushner in Los Angeles. Lahr is everywhere, from the newest Brian Friel play in Dublin, to Toronto on a Hal Prince revival of "Show Boat", from Stockholm on Ingmar Bergman's production of Yukio Mishima's "Madame de Sade", to London and Broadway. Included is a special collection on "Funny Men" which captures Joe Orton's laughter in the face of Halliwell's notorious scowl, pinpoints why the "outlaw stance" of Bill Hick's delights in Britain, but strikes fear in Middle-America, and even picks up on aspects of Oscar Wilde's childhood that Richard Ellmann missed.
- ISBN10 0747530793
- ISBN13 9780747530794
- Publish Date 19 June 1997 (first published 1 February 1996)
- Publish Status Out of Print
- Out of Print 18 January 2010
- Publish Country GB
- Imprint Bloomsbury Publishing PLC
- Edition New edition
- Format Paperback (B-Format (198x129 mm))
- Pages 288
- Language English