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Reader Reviews | |
Review by Paul Lappen (080603) Rating (9/10) Review
by Paul Lappen This book covers the entire directing process, starting from before the first rehearsal and extending to how to deal with critics. Read the play more than once. Understand that plays depict people in extraordinary circumstances. Keep the audience guessing. Rehearsals need discipline. Sincerely praise actors early and often. Listen for actors who drop the ends of lines. Some things are not and should not be repeatable. Don't keep actors hanging about needlessly. Include the crew. Be decisive. An audience's interest in the action is only as high as the actors' interest in it. Lighten up. Don't expect to have all the answers.
Obviously, this is a very specialized book. For someone with zero
experience on stage, like yours truly, these observations feel
logical and reasonable - practically common sense. It's recommended
for those on the outside, as it will give a good idea as to what
it is like to put on a professional production. For those on the
inside, whether actor, director, writer or technical crew, this
book is a must. It tells directors what they ought to know, and
what the crew would like them to know. |
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