Customer Reviews

Letters from an Actor

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This book chronicles the 1964 Broadway production of Hamlet starring Richard Burton and directed by Sir John Gielgud. The author played Guildenstern in the production.

Frank Rich (for 10 years the Drama Critic at the New York Times) called this his favorite book on an actor's perspective on mounting a play.

I agree with Mr. Rich on this one. The only reason I gave it 4 stars instead of 5 stars was to avoid overdoing my enthusiasm. (I'm worried people will notice that I am the author's son. Shush, don't tell anyone.)

It got rave reviews at the time it came out and has pleased readers for over 30 years. It is both instructive and hilariously funny.

Please request it at book stores, on line and write to Proscenium Publishing requesting another release.

Thank you

Adam Redfield

I read this book when I was in high school. More than thirty years later, I took it off the shelf and couldn't put it down. Wity and insightful, William Redfield's Letters from an Actor may be the best book I've read on what it's like to be a working actor in the theatre (I stress "theatre" beacuse Mr. Redfield has some interesting thoughts on film acting.) From frustrating rehearsals to nerve-wracking performances, this unique book puts the reader right on the stage with Mr. Redfield and the cast of Burton's Hamlet. Unfortunately, the theatre that William Redfield knew and loved no longer exists. Fortunately, this book captures an era --probably the end of it--when there was still an audience for dramas and comedies on Broadway, and still outstanding actors to perform in them. I can't think of a better theatre companion than William Redfield. This is a book the needs to be back in print. A great book and great fun!

I can do nothing more than echo the praise of the other reviewers. This very personal account of the rehearsal process and out-of-town tryout of the 1964 Broadway production of "Hamlet" that starred Richard Burton and was directed by John Gielgud is truly fascinating. William Redfield was a superb actor who could also write well, even though there are a handful of passages that perhaps should have been edited out.

I don't know of any book that gives you a better feeling of what it's like to be in rehearsal and trying to piece together a performance as everyone around you is trying to do the same. Redfield's account of a group of major actors--apart from Redfield and Burton, the cast included Alfred Drake, Hume Cronyn, Eileen Herlie, John Cullum, George Rose, George Voskovec, and Barnard Hughes--working under a director of undoubted genius who is somehow not really helping anyone much definitely makes you feel what it must have been like to be part of that.

If you're an actor, a director, or just love theatre, you will probably find this book fascinating.

I read this book in the La Salle College library in 1965 or 1966, when I was supposed to be in class. I made the right choice. The memory of the description of Richard Burton being booed still brings a smile to my face. Mr. Redfield's witt is a source of constant pleasure throughout. I fondly remember William Redfield as a superbly entertaining guest on many talk shows, during that golden era of talk shows that was the 1960's.

A captivating group of letters from an actor with a minor role (he played Guildenstern in 1964 Broadway Hamlet). What a talented writer was William Redfield! His son was too modest in granting him only 4 stars for this fascinating "behind the scenes" saga of the staging and development of the 1964 longest-ever running version of Hamlet on Broadway, which starred Richard Burton and was directed by John Gielgud. Fascinating insights into Burton, Gielgud, and others not even in the play. Ever so entertaining to read, thanks to the charming literary style of Mr. Redfield.

I've worked in professional theatre for over 30 years. This should be mandatory reading for anyone becoming an actor.

Or a director, for that matter, as the pasages about Sir John's eccentric directing style are priceless.

As for theatre patrons, if you really want to know what its like preparing a difficult drama like Hamlet ... or are of an age that you remember Burton and Elizabeth Taylor in their crazy primes, or Marlon Brando in his ... this is an incredible read.

I'm still not sure if this is in print. Are there really "new" versions of this available from resellers?

William Redfield was the BEST actor in the WORLD!!!! And his book "Letters From an Actor" is one of my favorite books in the WORLD!!!! It is funny and fast-reading and I wish it would continue on forever. Anyone who is considering a career in the theatre should definitely read this book. Anyone who isn't considering a career in the theatre should definitely read this book. After you read this book, you feel like you know William Redfield. And everyone, John Gielgud, Richard Burton, etc., were correct when they said that William Redfield and Clem Fowler were the best Guildenstern and Rosencrantz. I recently bought the "Hamlet" DVD with William Redfield. It is one of my favorite movies. And William Redfield and Clem Fowler are the best. And the best parts are the parts with William Redfield, because William Redfield is the best actor in the world!!!!!!!!

At 46 years old, I have just discovered William Redfield. I was up late one night and happened upon an episode of "Alfred Hitchcock Presents" called "The Manacled". I could not take my eyes off the screen as Mr. Redfield acted. It was an amazing performance and I checked Amazon to find other roles of his. He is indeed one of the best actors I have ever seen and I was so sad to find out that he died so young. I just finished watching "One flew over the Cuccoos Nest" and he was brilliant. He never received the awards and attention he should have received. Its so sad. I continue to watch him in old TV shows like "Bewitched", "Maude" and "The Bob Newhart show". I saw him in 2 more episodes of Alfred Hitchcock Presents. I just bought this book and will read it now. I see that his son, Adam, has written a review back in 1999. I hope if he reads this review and sees what a fan I am, he can write me back and tell me more about this amazing man and what it was like being his son. Adam: Your father unfortunately never received the acclaim and appreciation he deserved, but I want you to know that he is remembered by his fans and we appreciate all he has done and the films and shows he has left us to enjoy forever. He was a gifted man.

I loved this book when I was a teenager and it's so nice to own it again. Inspiring for anyone interested in a career in the theater or just a fun read.