The Audience and The Playwright : How to Get the Most Out of Live Theatre

Rating:
Summary: Best Book on Theatre I've Ever Read
Review: The writing is simple, candid and congenial -- the insights are extraordinary. Mayo Simon has explained how theatre works, and in doing so, articulates in fascinating detail all the intuitive feelings you may have had when going to a play. Understanding how theatre works is no small thing, and this book stands alongside Aristotle's Poetics in getting the job done... only THE AUDIENCE & THE PLAYWRIGHT is infinitely more engaging and entertaining. Mr. Simon weaves his perspective as if he's guiding you through an evening at the theatre, and illuminates his insights with dozens of examples from contemporary stage experiences. This book is a must read for anyone who loves theatre, likes theatre or just wants to know more. It would also be great for college and high school literature and theatre classes, indispensible to writers and playwights, and a fabulous addition to the bookstores and premium offerings of regional theatres around the world.

Rating:
Summary: Best Book on Theatre I've Ever Read
Review: The writing is simple, candid and congenial -- the insights are extraordinary. Mayo Simon has explained how theatre works, and in doing so, articulates in fascinating detail all the intuitive feelings you may have had when going to a play. Understanding how theatre works is no small thing, and this book stands alongside Aristotle's Poetics in getting the job done... only THE AUDIENCE & THE PLAYWRIGHT is infinitely more engaging and entertaining. Mr. Simon weaves his perspective as if he's guiding you through an evening at the theatre, and illuminates his insights with dozens of examples from contemporary stage experiences. This book is a must read for anyone who loves theatre, likes theatre or just wants to know more. It would also be great for college and high school literature and theatre classes, indispensible to writers and playwights, and a fabulous addition to the bookstores and premium offerings of regional theatres around the world.

Rating:
Summary: An engaging, invigorating read
Review: Whether you are an avid theater-goer, a Shakespeare fan, a playwright (or wanna be), Simon's experience and insight will engage your mind and offer new perspectives on how drama works - interactions back and forth between writer and audience, by way of live actors. Fascinating thinking about many ways that the theater experience is different than that of the big or small screens.
As a result, Simon has penetrating insights for authors working in ANY medium - and for all students of human behavior and relationships. To top it off, his personable, comfortable writing style makes the reader right at home -- like speaking with a companion (albeit a highly seasoned one) along for an entire theater evening.
In the course of the book, Simon helps the reader understand better why great theater grips (and moves and aggravates and CHANGES) us: drawing from Shakespeare, Chekov, Stoppard, Translations... and even back to Oedipus. Just about anyone in any stage of theater experience will benefit from Simon's grasp of the dynamic part that is played in theater by YOU. I'll be rereading this little volume numerous times to reflect on why and how these masterpieces work their wonders on me.