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Great Directors at Work: Stanislavsky, Brecht, Kazan, Brook

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As an avid follower of the more satirical innovations in theatre, I was surprised to read a wonderful book that made use of a singular technique in conveying what might otherwise have been distinctly dry academic material. Choosing Stanislavsky, Bert Brecht, and Pete Brook is a stroke of inspiration given a critical technique that writes close to the bone with great sardonic wit! Jones' connection of Stanislavsky with the tradition of Russian "clown"(ing) is especially awakening, particularly vis-a-vis the chapter on pratfall, pedantry and logorrhea. Here David Jones plays the method actor's part to a "T." The chapter on Berthold Brecht and epic theatre is told in epic style, as Jones recounts--Homer-like--the daring theatrical exploits of this great proletariat warrior, swelling to epic proportions in descriptions of some of his finest work. What is somewhat confusing is the inclusion of Kazan with little reference to Kazan's ironic connection to Senator McCarthy's "UnAmerican" hearings,where Kazan "named names," in a highly misunderstood fashion. Much as Stanley in "Streetcar" names Stella with muscular, brute and feral but ambiguous elan. As a professor of 20th Century Aeolian Elaboration and a Narcissus Foundation for Literary Studies Fellow, I highly recommend this book! Kudos to David Richard Jones on his crowning achievement.

This book may be about great directors at work - but the stories themsleves are told in not sucha a great way. If you are familiar with their directing forms - you shall not find any surprises; however, if you are planning on starting up your "directors" studies, this might be a neat start, that is, if you are into anecdoctes with academic airs. I suggest reading the masters themselves without Mr. D.R. Jones' transposition to the mise en page.