Being an Actor, Revised and Expanded Edition [Paperback]

Simon Callow (Author)

List Price:	CDN$ 19.37
Price:	CDN$ 18.98 & eligible for FREE Super Saver Shipping on orders over CDN$ 25. Details
You Save:	CDN$ 0.39 (2%)
	o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o

In Stock.
Ships from and sold by Amazon.ca. Gift-wrap available.

Only 1 left in stock--order soon (more on the way).

Want it delivered Monday, May 28? Choose One-Day Shipping at checkout.

	Amazon Price	New from	Used from
Hardcover	--	--	--
Paperback	CDN $18.98	--	--
See # more paperbacks

Product Details

Paperback: 368 pages
Publisher: Picador USA; Rep Sub edition (Aug 23 2003)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0312422431
ISBN-13: 978-0312422431
Product Dimensions: 20.9 x 14.1 x 2.4 cm
Shipping Weight: 331 g
Amazon Bestsellers Rank: #385,777 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #3 in Books > Biographies & Memoirs > Arts & Literature > Theatre

Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images?

Product Description

From Publishers Weekly

Callow was told by master performer Michael MacLiammoir that he was "a born writer, perhaps, but not a born actor." He went on to become not only a most versatile actor, but with this book becomes an accomplished commentator on the theater. What makes Callow's memoir of the familiar uncertainties of an actor's life pleasurable is this actor's eccentricity. He revels in spinning tales of failed shows, arrogant directors, Oscar Wilde reincarnations such as MacLiammoir, who became Callow's first mentor, and the craziness of the profession. Stardom doesn't seem to be a preoccupation with him, and the adventure of creating unique characterizations, such as his Orlando in As You Like It, is perhaps his reward, especially when he astonished London with his portrayal of Mozart in the original staging of Amadeus. Callow is opinionated and an outspoken protector of the performer's right to interpret character, but he finds today's actors at the mercy of ambitious directors: the director "has interposed himself between actor and writer, claiming that they cannot speak each other's language." Actors and non-actors alike will find this witty, knowledgeable book delightful. Photos.
Copyright 1986 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Review

“The most honest book ever written about us all.” —Sir Ian McKellen

“The best picture of theatre life since MacLiammóir’s classic All for Hecuba.” —Ulick O’Connor, The Sunday Independent (London)

“Impassioned, intelligent, informative, and quite simply, one of the best theatre books I have read.” —Michael Coveney, The Financial Times (London)

“Pugnaciously candid...His book is a unique account of an actor’s life in mid-career.” —Michael Billington, The Guardian (London)

See all Product Description

Tag this product

(What's this?)

Think of a tag as a keyword or label you consider is strongly related to this product.
Tags will help all customers organize and find favorite items.

Customer Reviews

There are no customer reviews yet on Amazon.ca

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

Share your experience with this product with others

Create your own review

Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com ^(beta)

Amazon.com: 5.0 out of 5 stars (2 customer reviews)

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Deeply Insightful, Sep 29 2011

By michael - Published on Amazon.com

Amazon Verified Purchase(What's this?)

This review is from: Being an Actor, Revised and Expanded Edition (Paperback)

Let's start here: I am not an actor. I took an acting class in high school, once, and have read a bare smattering of plays, but generally enjoy a trip to the theatre.

I am, however, a human being, and Simon Callow herein captures, with beautiful lucidity, aspects of the life experience and gained understandings of a young actor in such a way as to be universally understood.

His writing style is a delight to read, and the book entire is worth buying for the section on Shakespeare's Sonnets alone!

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Loved it, July 17 2010

By L. Grenville "amazon fan" - Published on Amazon.com

Amazon Verified Purchase(What's this?)

What a discovery. Callow is a wonderful and illuminating writer on theater. Looking forward with pleasure to reading soon his books on Welles, Laughton, and more of his autobiographicals.

› Go to Amazon.com to see both reviews 5.0 out of 5 stars