Slings and Arrows: Theater in My Life

by Robert Lewis

“He's a marvelous gossipy, candid without being cruel, and very funny. This vivid, entertaining book is also one of the most penetrating works to be written about the theater.” - Publishers Weekly

384 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1984

Reviews

[Algernon · Rating 4 out of 5]

There is little after the first chapter of Bobby Lewis's personal life - not a word about personal relationships, political views, fears, and few regrets - but this theatre-memoir is a vivid expression of a person's artistic identity. Lewis literally snuck into his early work in theatre, became a member of the landmark Group Theatre through the 1930s, but parted with Strasberg in terms of the actor's methodology and eventually, through his famous "Method or Madness" lectures, articulated a more holistic and versatile artistic approach. Covering most of the twentieth century, the book is a gripping tour through modern American theatre history through the eyes of a most influential director and teacher.