Front Row: Evenings at The Theatre [Hardcover]

Beryl Bainbridge (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: December 10, 2005 | ISBN-10: 0826487874 | ISBN-13: 978-0826487872

With an outstanding introductory essay, one of the greatest living English novelists has assembled her writings, essays and reviews about the theatre to provide a highly individual view of contemporary theatre and actors.

Editorial Reviews

Review

'... I was not a stranger to the world of the stage. At the age of five I became a member of the Thelma Bickerstaff tap-dancing troupe appearing at the Garrick Theatre, Southport. Four years later I went solo and sang Kiss Me Goodnight Sergeant Major to an audience of wounded soldiers transported from the local hospital.'

'Bainbridge the novelist can't resist the essential absurdity of people pretending not to be themselves eight times a week... the sending-up, however, is done with great affection. Bainbridge can never be a great critic of the theatre because she loves it too deeply and still identifies with people on the other side of the proscenium arch.' (Kate Saunders Sunday Times )

Interview with Beryl Bainbridge, mentions the book. (Financial Times )

'Enjoyable... there is a lack of snobbishness in the columns collected here; Bainbridge is as happy to sit through Shakespeare as she is through a farce or a muscial. She still marvels at the magic of theatre and her reviews lack the dour quality of so many braodsheet hacks... Front Row is an ideal book to gorge all at once or dip into every now and then... an idiosyncratic record of the last decade of the theatre, but also an intimate portrayal of one of our greatest writers and is perhaps as close as we will ever get to a full autobiography.' Attitude Magazine

'Contains fascinating insights... as well as delightful sketches of actors.' Good Book Guide

'The refreshing aspect of this collection of reviews is that you feel they have been written by someone who is open to the experience of what she is about to see without prejudging it... her real strength is her outline of the story, which, as one of our foremost novelists, is hardly surprising. The emphasis in all of these reviews is on a succinct appraisal of the narrative and an appreciation of the writer... will appeal to anyone wanting a browse through that decade, not only of the plays, but also some of the sociological phonomena of that decade, in the always entertaining company of the author.' Camden New Journal

'Your professional critic is inclined to go to see a play with their knives sharpened and ready to use if it doesn't meet their preconceived expectations, whereas Dame Beryl goes more as a punter.' Islington Tribune

'...The reviews in this book are mainly of a random selection of plays in the 1990s and will appeal to anyone wanting a browse through that decade, not only of the plays, but also some of the sociological phenomena of that decade, in the always entertaining company of the author.'

(Roger Lloyd Pack West End Extra )

'...Her introductory essay is beguilling - when, please, will Dame Beryl write her autobiography.'

(Iain Finlayson Times )

'...highly entertaining and informed view of the London theatre.'

(Peter Elson Liverpool Daily Post )

'This volume has a wonderful and insightful introductory essay , whilst also containing comment on the work of those such as Alan Bennett and Alan Rickman, and some delightful anecdotes fromBainbridge's early days in the theatre.'

Good Book Guide, 01/09/2006

'...The reviews in this book are mainly of a random selection of plays in the 1990s and will appeal to anyone wanting a browse through that decade, not only of the plays, but also some of the sociological phenomena of that decade, in the always entertaining company of the author.'

(, West End Extra )

'...Her introductory essay is beguilling - when, please, will Dame Beryl write her autobiography.'

(, Times )

'...highly entertaining and informed view of the London theatre.'

(, Liverpool Daily Post )

About the Author

Dame Beryl Bainbridge (1932 - 2010) was one of the most successful and loved contemporary novelists. Her recent novels have included An Awfully Big Adventure, Master Georgie, The Birthday Boys and According to Queenie.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 224 pages
• Publisher: Continuum (December 10, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0826487874
• ISBN-13: 978-0826487872
• Product Dimensions: 7.7 x 5.4 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,261,478 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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