In a successful blend of fact and fact-based fiction, Ross brings to life Shakespeare's London, going behind the scenes of the Globe Theatre to imagine the Bard's creation of Macbeth. Then Ross narrows the focus and takes the reader to a royal performance of the play before King James, building up the atmosphere and giving an impressively clear synopsis of the plot. Overall, the resulting book is intelligent and informative, and excells at introducing theater as a living art form. It does not attempt to condense or retell Macbeth; instead it takes the play as a centerpiece, expanding into a biography of Shakespeare and an overview of theater, politics and customs in 17th-century England. The text sometimes lacks immediacy (conversations are paraphrased; much is explained rather than shown), but the richness of the subject matter overcomes this flaw. Somber-hued, people-filled illustrations have the precision of photography and the look of the Dutch masters. They add authenticity and a sense of history, and they enhance the excitement of scenes of Macbeth in performance. Line drawings swirl around the borders of the play's synopsis, capturing the action contained within the words. Ages 10-up.
Copyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc.
From School Library Journal
Grade 6-9?A unique approach to theater history. Ross presents a quick view of Jacobean London, Shakespeare's life, the king's patronage and prejudices, the troupe of actors, and the physical layout of the Globe, and shows how these factors influenced the structure of the play. Readers are first set down in London, then introduced to the Globe during a performance of Hamlet. Afterwards, they move backstage to meet the actors. There is a bit of fictionalizing?Shakespeare talks to Burbage and the guys about his idea for a new play over wine at the Boar's Head Inn?but the device contributes to the relaxed feel of the book. The story then moves to the historical background of Macbeth, explaining the changes the playwright made and his possible reasons. This seeming overload of material is skillfully packaged, with explanatory information carried in concise sidebars. The endpapers feature a sketch of London by Wenceslaus Hollar; internally, Karpinski's vibrant paintings are reminiscent of the Dutch masters' work in their rich colors and strong light, and create dramatic impact with their unusual perspectives. Ambrus's lively sketches achieve a shift of focus for an end segment representing a performance of the new play for King James. The perpetual grouse by Shakespeare buffs that a book can't give young people the true sense of a stage production is at least partly countered by this dynamic gem.?Sally Margolis, Deerfield Public Library,
Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc.
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