Cover of Theatre

Theatre

If theatre were a religion, explains David Mamet in his opening chapter, "many of the observations and suggestions in this book might be heretical." As always, Mamet delivers on his promise: in Theatre, the acclaimed author of Glengarry Glen Rossand Speed the Plow calls for nothing less than the death of the director and the end of acting theory. For Mamet, either actors are good or they are non-actors, and good actors generally work best without the interference of a director, however well-intentioned. Issue plays, political correctness, method actors, impossible directions, Stanislavksy, and elitists all fall under Mamet's critical gaze. To students, teachers, and directors who crave a blast of fresh air in a world that can be insular and fearful of change, Theatrethrows down a gauntlet that challenges everyone to do better, including Mamet himself.

Audience
adult
Length
short · 157 pages

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These suit anyone who liked Theatre. Sign in and mark a few books for picks shaped around your own taste.

  1. Theatre of the Oppressed Shares théâtre, theatre, nonfiction
  2. The Empty Space: A Book About the Theatre: Deadly, Holy, Rough, Immediate Shares théâtre, theatre, nonfiction
  3. Towards a Poor Theatre Shares theatre, théâtre, acting
  4. The Open Door Shares theatre, nonfiction, theater

“People who read Theatre tend to reach for these next.”

  1. Notes on Directing
  2. Black Comedy
  3. Free for All: Joe Papp, the Public, and the Greatest Theater Story Ever Told
  4. Thom Pain (based on nothing)

“If you want more of the same (literary fiction about theatre), start with these.”

  1. Spring Awakening: In the Flesh
  2. All the King's Men: A Play
  3. Avenue Q: The Book
  4. Forêts

“If it was the théâtre that hooked you, try one of these.”

  1. The Viewpoints Book: A Practical Guide to Viewpoints and Composition
  2. My Life in Art
  3. The Theatre of the Absurd
  4. Games for Actors and Non-Actors

“These start from a similar idea, even if they go somewhere else with it.”

  1. The Director's Craft: A Handbook for the Theatre
  2. The Fervent Years: The Group Theatre and the 30's
  3. The Knight of the Burning Pestle
  4. Acting: The First Six Lessons