Burnt Bridges: A Souvenir of the Swinging Sixties and Beyond [Hardcover]

Charles Marowitz (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 1992

A personal account of the 1960s from the director of the Open Space Theatre. The text is interspersed with cameos and reminiscences of the people Marowitz worked with and knew, such as Harold Pinter, Spike Milligan, Glenda Jackson and Joe Orton.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Marowitz, artistic director of London's Open Space Theatre during 1968-1980, recalls life at the vanguard of experimental theater in this highly analytical yet often humorous memoir. After moving to London from New York City in 1956, Marowitz worked as a drama critic for such publications as the Village Voice and Encore , failed as an actor, and found his niche as a director and playwright. Lenny Bruce, Harold Pinter and Sam Shepard make his acquaintance here; he praises late theater critic Kenneth Tynan, slings barbs at actress Vanessa Redgrave, remembers his powerful first impression of actress Glenda Jackson and discusses his direction of the first production of ill-fated playwright Joe Orton's Loot. Readers hear of the manic energy and idealism that fueled contemporary stagings at the Open Space, absurd "happenings," street theater and poetry readings. Marowitz's passion for his metier is apparent as he cerebrally evaluates his peers and evinces disdain for pretentious theatergoers; nostalgia, intellectualism and deft turns of phrase characterize this look back at anti-Establishment artistry. Illustrated.
Copyright 1992 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 256 pages
• Publisher: Hodder & Stoughton (October 1992)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0340496592
• ISBN-13: 978-0340496596
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 6.3 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #7,801,667 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars A SEARING SOUVENIR, October 7, 2009

By 

Charles Marowitz "deep-reader" (los Angeles, CA.) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Burnt Bridges: A Souvenir of the Swinging Sixties and Beyond (Hardcover)

A WITTY AND INCISIVE DESCRIPTION OF 'THE SWINGING SIXTIES' - PARTICULARLY

APT TO THEATRE-LOVERS. WITHOUT PULLING ANY PUNCHES, IT DESCRIBES THE TURMOILS AND

TREACHERIES OF THE LONDON THEATRE SCENE IN THE 60s AND 70s COMBINING FASCINATING PERSONAL CONFESSIONS OF ONE OF THE ARCHITECTS OF THE NEW DRAMA; A WRITER-PLAYWRIGHT -DIRECTOR WHO WORKED CLOSELY WITH PETER BROOK AT THE ROYAL SHAKESPEARE COMPANY AND IN TANDEM WITH THELMA HOLT, NOW ONE OF THE MOST PRESTIGIOUS PRODUCERS IN THE WEST END. A RARE INSIGHT INTO THE WORKINGS OF PROFESSIONAL, OFF-BEAT THEATRE DURING THAT PERIOD WHEN THE BEATLES,THE ROLLING STONES, WILLIAM BURROUGHS, MERCE CUNNINGHAM, JOHN CAGE AND JACK KEROUAC WERE RECONSTITUTING THE ARTS IN ENGLAND. THIS IS THE KIND OF MATERIAL BIO-PICS ARE MADE OF!

NATHAN GLAZER