Customer Reviews

Between acts, an irreverent look at opera and other madness

5 star:		(1)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

It is not uncommon for the mention of "opera" to scare people away. Robert Merrill, who is still around (probably not singing) has written a joyful book of wonderful anecdotes about opera....on and off stage. He is probably a more familiar name and face to music afficionados thus making a tempting invitation to read about this "dreaded" sunject. Opera singers of the early 20th century could take long trips via train or ocean liner to reach their next destinations. So musicians not only were rested when they arrived, but often fell into some interesting and droll situations. Also, the technology of singing at the Hollywood Bowl, for example, became a challenge to Merrill when, in order to project his voice, he had to bury his head in the bosom of his leading lady using her hidden microphone. The book also gives a lovely scenario about the glory days of great performers during the past century. "Between Acts" is a delightful read, laced with a glorious sense of humor, and facts of the artists whose names are now legends.

Merrill published his autobiography, Once More from the Beginning, in 1965, with a different ghostwriter. When I picked up this book, I wondered why he had switched ghostwriters. After reading it, I wondered no longer. Approximately the first half of this disappointing, rather trashy book is simply an inferior recycling of the same autobiographical material in Once More from the Beginning. The remainder is a grab-bag of anecdotes, vignettes, smutty stories, all written in a breathlessly breezy, glib, gossipy, frivolous style that is long on tawdry titillation and short on class, taste, and substance--and sometimes believability as well. Anyone interested in Merrill's life and career should read Once More from the Beginning; it's no masterpiece but it's a lot better than this redundant, unnecessary dud.