Customer Reviews

The Rehearsal

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

 

 

I found this second book by Sarah Willis to be a good read, in large part because of its original approach. Willis puts the rehearsal for "Of Mice and Men" center stage; we learn about the troubled family members as they walk into scene, work backstage or look on as spectator.

As if we were looking through a kaleidoscope, we see the characters develop, discontinue, or renew relationships with each other in subtle shifts; the novel benefits from this multi-layered texture. Willis also demonstrates her skill as an author by maintaining a deliberate pace throughout these shifts. Certainly the stakes become more and more intense, and as a reader, you can't help but think ahead to the final scene, but in this book the conclusion is not one you can predict.

From the start, it is apparent to the reader how Will's role as director eclipses his role as husband and father. How much he has ignored his family becomes starkly evident in the climax of the book, but as the cast rehearses there are plenty of other surprises along the way.

My only criticism would be in regard to the character of Beth, the bratty teenage daughter. In an otherwise rich ensemble of characters, this painfully screechy character is the only discordant note. I realize her character functions as a catalyst, but I would have preferred it if she had been less hysterical. I was a sixteen year old girl once; we're not that bad!

The find of the year! Engrossing and poignant. I love the way each character gets a say--or a "role"--in the action. Willis does a great job of representing each viewpoint. The characters "live" their roles in the play Of Mice and Men, and they play out their lives on life's stage. Willis writes so well, and so wisely. Highly recommended for lovers of the theater...AND of good novels.

Sarah Willis' "The Rehearsal" had great expectations to live up to. Not only did this book capture the magic her first novel "Some Things That Stay" had, but it exceeded my expectations.

The Rehearsal is about Will, the director of a Pittsburgh theatre company. He has heard rumors that they might not ask the company to return after this season since it is the early 70's and broadway and New York actors are all the rage. Determined to save his company he invites the cast of his latest play "Of Mice And Men" to his summer home where he and his family go each summer. The idea is to live the play. To sleep like the ranch hands in the play who sleep in barns, the point is to do everything in character. Will and his wife, Myra and their two children live along side these actors for a month. The story is about all of these lives that become entwined and how things change, why they change and sometimes why they stay the same.

Sarah Willis has the most beautiful prose, both of her books have quickly become favorites of mine. Her words flow on the page like poetry, with the most incredible metaphors and ways of looking and describing things. I would not hesitate to recommend either book to anyone, they do not disappoint.

"The Rehearsal" is an unsentimental story about the unraveling of the Bartlett family. Unlike her previous novel, "Some Things That Stay," this is NOT a compelling read. Sarah Willis misses the mark with this one -- even though she writes again of a seemingly unorthodox and dysfunctional family. Written with careful attention to the theatre and an actor's perspective, "The Rehearsal" does a good job capturing their mindset -- unfortunately it is not enough to carry the book.

This is a story that is told from each character's perspective and in the present tense -- this gives it a hurried feel that leaves the reader wanting at the end of the story. Also, there is much pathos here: a bored housewife re-examining her role in the family, the angry sixteen year old girl, a fearful boy, and an easily rattled and selfish director/husband/dad. Throw in a handful of personalities (the actors from a struggling resident theatre) and the backdrop of Steinbeck's "Of Mice and Men," and it becomes long, tedious, and frustrating.

Save your money on this one -- if you are looking for a good read about a troubled family read her convincing and memorable book "Some Things That Stay."

I was very excited to read this book after carefully examining the inside flap at the book store. I was extremely disapointed, however at the slow pace of the story line and of the many characters whom I cared nothing about. The author had such a unique idea going, bringing a rehearsal of "Of Mice and Men" to life for one solid month, but brought in so many insignificant players, that the book dragged on for too long.

As for Beth, the horrendous 16 year old daughter, there had to have been some good qualities in her somewhere. She was portrayed as a jealous, conniving and loathsome adolecent. Having been a daughter, and having two myself, I thought her character was exagerated and made young women in whichever decade, have a bad name.

This is the first novel that I have read in a long time that I would not reccommend.

Steinbeck would give his seal of approval to this delightful novel that uses his Of Mice and Men. It's tense, at times, and often very funny. I also loved all of the Shakespeare/theater references. Extremely well-written.

I enjoyed this book but what happened at the end? It built up to a big ending scene and then fell flat without as so much as a Goodbye or this happened..

It had all the usual characters and story plot but still was intriguing. I can't wait to read her other book to judge this book more. I am still at a loss of words. What happened??

Will Bartlett, the director of a small resident company of actors in the 1970's, senses that their work has become a bit complacent, making their company vulnerable to closing in favor of more popular (and "safe") touring productions. His solution is to bring the entire cast to his rural summer home, so that they might "live" the production of Steinbeck's "Of Mice and Men", thus uncovering new depth to their roles that will energize the audience and the company's benefactors. Unfortunately, he has failed to notice the complacency and stagnation within his own family. The result of this exercise in creativity is a mixture of chaos and pathos as various members of Will's theatrical and home families jockey and learn more about themselves, their friends and rivals.

Will's wife Myra and daughter Beth discover a mutual yearning for the role of Curley's Wife, that threatens to send their already robust mother/daughter rivalry over the edge. Meanwhile, Melinda the flower child actress embraces the role along with a castmate. Meanwhile, the motley collection of actors discover that living the lives of farm workers is much more difficult than recreating them on stage.

The near-communal living conditions stretch hormones as well, as Beth plots her seduction of the hunky young heartthrob, Myra looks to re-energize her life with Will's best friend, and a closeted gay man discovers a potential soul mate. Throughout the week, Will the director focuses so tightly on his concept of the play that he is completely blind to the shifting relationships offstage. The events of man and nature bring the ensemble to a collection of resolutions that range from poignant to worrisome.

With a third person literary style that constantly shifts from character to character, Ms. Willis has created a nice novel that somehow left me wanting more. The players are all vividly portrayed, however I can't help but wish that events could have moved just a little faster than a snail's pace.

Using an unlikely premise as a backdrop, Willis spends 90% of her book developing characters that remain uninteresting and who never actually do anything interesting.

Irritatingly written entirely in the present tense, this book is largely a waste of ink, paper and the reader's time.