Title: Drama: An Actor’s Education
Review: Every time I see John Lithgow in a real situation, like an interview or game show, I never fail to come away impressed about how genuinely nice he seems. That is why I was very excited to get this autobiography as soon as possible. So I went into this a little biased too really like this and I can say it met all my expectations.
This book should be handed out to every aspiring teenager who sees all the glittering lights and want s to be an actor. It will completely dispel the myth of overnight success and show you the hard work and time required to have a chance at your dream. More than that, it clearly demonstrates the amount of love you must have to every aspect of your profession.
John Lithgow was a stage rat since he was a little boy working on his father’s productions. He grew up working backstage, building sets, making costumes, and being an all around dog’s body. Then as he grew up he began with nonspeaking parts and eventually having a few lines. Lithgow delights with a series of stories from his life that lead you through his progression as an actor.
He covers both the proud and the shameful with equal honesty. From his Tony award to his infidelity, in the end you come away liking him all the more. What sticks with me is the new respect I have for any successful actor and who manages to stay a nice person. Acting is a profession and it is hard work. It sort of justifies my dislike for reality stars who try to skip all the education (as Lithgow puts it) and just be famous for nothing; or failing that, a sex tape.
What you won’t find in this book is gossip and lurid tales of all the people Lithgow has met or worked with. This is definitely not a glorified tabloid.
ISBN: 978-0-06-173497-7
Copyright: 2011
Pages: 316
Quick Review: 4.5 stars out of 5
Why I Read It: Love to read biographies of people who interest me. Plus I grew up with 3rd Rock from the Sun and who doesn’t love Dick Solomon.
Where I Obtained the Book: Won it from the publisher in the Goodreads giveaway program.
Synopsis: Through the vivid stories in "Drama", John Lithgow shares a backstage history of his struggle, crisis, and discovery, and the scenes of his early life and career that took place before he became a nationally-known star. Above all, "Drama" is a tribute to the most important influence in John Lithgow's life: his father, Arthur Lithgow. An actor, director, producer, and great lover of Shakespeare, Arthur brought theatre to John's boyhood, where performance and storytelling were a constant and cherished part of family life.
Lithgow brings the theatre worlds of New York and London to life as he relives his collaborations with renowned performers and directors including Mike Nichols, Bob Fosse, Liv Ullmann, Meryl Streep, and Brian De Palma. Lithgow's ruminations on the nature of theatre, performance, and storytelling cut to the heart of why actors are driven to perform, and why people are driven to watch them do it. At once hilarious and reflective, "Drama" pulls back the curtain on the making of one of our most beloved actors.
Lithgow brings the theatre worlds of New York and London to life as he relives his collaborations with renowned performers and directors including Mike Nichols, Bob Fosse, Liv Ullmann, Meryl Streep, and Brian De Palma. Lithgow's ruminations on the nature of theatre, performance, and storytelling cut to the heart of why actors are driven to perform, and why people are driven to watch them do it. At once hilarious and reflective, "Drama" pulls back the curtain on the making of one of our most beloved actors.
Author Biography: What am I passionate about? There are many answers to that question, most of them self-evident. I passionately love to act, of course. I love to entertain, to move people to laughter and tears, to tell stories to audiences old and very young. I love to put on costume and makeup and play a role. You don’t become an actor without a passion for it, and without that passion you certainly don’t stay one. I love theatre, both standing on the stage and sitting in front of it. I love writing books for children. I passionately advocate for kids’ literacy and love of learning. I love my family, I love my friends, and these days I’m a passionate Democrat.
But if you know anything about me, you know all of that. Let me tell you something that you probably don’t know.
I’m a fiend for competitive sports. And any sport will do.
The playwright Bertold Brecht said that all theatre should have the drama of an athletic event. The reason is stupidly simple. In the theatre, the fix is in: no matter how thrilling and suspenseful the performance may be, a small number of people in the building know exactly how things will turn out. This is never true with sports. Anything can happen. True, there are odds-on favorites, lopsided victories, and crushing defeats. But the air is always full of possibility. There are upsets, comebacks, rivalries, heartbreaks, beating the odds, overcoming injury, vindication, revenge. There are heroes, villains, tyrants, cowards, and goats. And for the avid spectator, there is the constant, lifelong pursuit of the Holy Grail: being at the right place at the right time. Who wouldn’t trade any night in a theatre for the actual sight of Buckner’s error, Phelps’ Butterfly win, Tiger’s one-legged U.S. Open, McEnroe-Borg, Ali-Frazier, or any one of about ten Jordan buzzer-beaters?
As it happens, I have achieved the Holy Grail a few times already. I was within yelling distance when Baggio missed his penalty kick to lose the 1994 World Cup. I could hear Michael Johnson’s voice over the screaming crowd when he set the Men’s 400 Meter record at the ’96 Olympics. I was actually on the sidelines when John Elway out-dueled Brett Favre in Super Bowl [?]. True, I had a ticket to Game 6 in ‘86 at Shea Stadium and missed it because I had a tech rehearsal that night at Lincoln Center, AND THEY NEVER EVEN GOT TO MY ENTRANCE!!! But I’ve had more glorious moments than I deserve, so it’s churlish to complain.
Does all of the above mean absolutely nothing to you? Then clearly you do not and cannot share this particular passion of mine. If that’s the case, then you must meet my wife. Sadly, she’s on your team.
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The fact that he doesn't include any gossip about the famous people that he has worked with is a testament to the good kind of person he is. Sounds like this is an enjoyable book -- I always liked him in 3rd Rock from the Sun.
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