Real Life Drama: The Group Theatre and America, 1931-1940

by Wendy Smith

Real Life Drama is the classic history of the remarkable group that revitalized American theater in the 1930s by engaging urgent social and moral issues that still resonate today.
 
Born in the turbulent decade of the Depression, the Group Theatre revolutionized American arts. Wendy Smith's dramatic narrative brings the influential troupe and its founders to life once again, capturing their joys and pains, their triumphs and defeats. Filled with fresh insights into the towering personalities of Harold Clurman, Lee Strasberg, Cheryl Crawford, Elia Kazan, Clifford Odets, Stella and Luther Adler, Karl Malden, and Lee J. Cobb, among many others, Real Life Drama chronicles a passionate community of idealists as they opened a new frontier in theater.

Genres: Drama, Theatre

796 pages, Kindle Edition

First published November 21, 1990

Reviews

[Meaghan Neelie]

Absolute Horse shit.
This is the most driest piece of literature on the planet. I felt as if I was reading a textbook back in high school.
The only purpose I got out of this book was that it was fantastic for killing spiders.

I never write reviews, but I feel I have to warn the next person that even tries to read it.

[Michael Fletcher]

A fascinating, if long, read.

[Tom Joyner]

I've had this book on my shelf for years, but never had the time and focus to read it until recently.

As a theatre history lover, I have to say I was missing out by not reading this earlier. The Group is one of the great stories of the American theatre, and Smith tells it well, in lucid, unshowy prose that never bogs down as it also provides restrained, balanced critique of the key moments, productions, and personalities that defined the company. Someone else reviewing the book mentions the "infuriating" nature of some of the Group's story. Have to agree. But it's nevertheless an inspiring story for theatre people, because it shows what a committed group of artists can accomplish, even when weighted down by the baggage of social indifference, economic challenges aggravated by the Great Depression, and complex personal issues. Clurman has always been a hero of mine, and this book reflects that dimension of the man while also dealing with his flaws very frankly. If I have one critique, it's that I wanted more reflection on the connection between the Group and it's work and the critical decade of American history that gave it birth and, eventually, killed it. Ultimately, however, my admiration for the Group was reinforced by this account of how far their idealism took them under very difficult historical and personal circumstances. A real achievement by the author. Highly recommended, even if you're not a theatre person, for its deft treatment of an important American story.

[Susan]

I read this fascinating and well-written history of the Group Theatre when I was processing the Eunice Stoddard papers for The New York Public Library for the Performing Arts (Stoddard was a little-heralded but active member). Smith expertly presides over a tumultuous tour of this pivotal American theatre of the 1930s: the idealism, the passion, the alliances, the compromises, the technique, talent, rivalries, betrayals, affairs, disillusion, and finally dissolution. On a stage with a foundation of solid and detailed research, Smith assembles a cast of vivid characters fired with the passion of youth, who inspire each other to their highest levels of artistry even while dealing devastating criticism to one another and scheming unsuccessfully to wed artistic achievement with commercial viability. An essential read for theatrefolk. This is what it is.

[Mark]

Really informative, in depth and inspiring on so many levels. Not a quick b/c of the level of detail but so engaging because of it. I knew the name and the names attached to the group theater but none of the particulars. This book not only makes people out of the icons but gives such detail to their personalities, their acheivements and the world in which they lived and worked. Truly inspiring to note that theater always forges together divergent personalities who believe in the same things for at least some period of time--and good to note that drama is the nature of the beast. Spooky also that the Broadway machine the Group was working with/against is pretty much the same 80 years later!!!!

[Rolls]

Utterly essential to anyone who has ever thought of starting a theatre. This is an inspiring and infuriating story.

[Trav S.D.]

http://travsd.wordpress.com/2013/08/2...