Description
Book SynopsisThe extraordinary performers collected here have altered the history of popular entertainment in America and Europe. Some have rarely had their story told, others are familiar figures. The essays explore what made these performers extraordinary.
Trade Review
‘…this valuable, immensely entertaining and handsomely-produced volume of essays and interviews, …’ (Theatre Notebook, Volume 60, Number 1. 2006)
Table of Contents
Part I: The idea of acting extraordinary actors of the 17th and 18th century:
Introduction, Martin Banham, Richard Burbage, Alexander Leggatt
Commedia dell'arte in Russia - Popular Satiric Perfomers in the 18th Century, Laurence Senelick
Thomas Betterton - The Art of Playing, Jane Milling
PART II: The celebrated actor as cultural icon - extraordinary actors of the 19th century:
Introduction, Chris McCullough
British Invasions on the American Stage, Don Wilmeth
Acting and the Austere Joys of Motherhood - Sarah Siddons Performs Maternity, Jan McDonald
The Brothers Fay - Irish Acting and the Origins of the Abbey Theatre, Ger Fitzgibbon
Gertie Millar: Celebrity and Musical Comedy, Viv Gardner
PART III: Acting for popular audiences, the mass and the local extraordinary actors of the 20th century
Introduction, Jane Milling
Lena Ashwell and the Once A-Week Players - Popular Performers in London, Chris Dymkowski
Peter Lorre - A Clash of European and US Acting Styles, Chris McCullough
George Formby and the Northern Sublime, Baz Kershaw
Leo Fuchs - Yiddish Vaudevillian, Joel Schechter; Laurel and Hardy and Morecambe and Wise - Comedy Double Acts, Richard Boon
Playing on the Front Foot - Actors and Audience in British Popular Theatre 1970-1990, Colin Chambers and Maggie Steed
Mark Rylance - Popular acting at the Globe Theatre, Martin White.
