Light Fantastic: Adventures in Theatre

by John Lahr

As drama critic for The New Yorker, John Lahr has always striven to tell the story behind the story; to use biography and history as well as his skill as a critic to illuminate the theater and all of its players. Light Fantastic is a wide-ranging, comprehensive collection of his best critical pieces exploring the heart and soul of the theater.



From his penetrating examination of Oscar Wilde's path to self-destruction, to his tragic portrait of Joe Orton's corrosive relationship with Kenneth Halliwell; from his chronicle of the rise and fall and reprisal of the American musical to his insightful commentary on such playwrights as Tennessee Williams, Tony Kushner, Lillian Hellman, Arthur Miller and Tom Stoppard, John Lahr brilliantly illuminates the dazzling world of contemporary theater.

Genres: Essays, Theatre, Nonfiction

416 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1996

About the author

John Lahr is the senior drama critic of The New Yorker, where he has written about theatre and popular culture since 1992. Among his eighteen books are Notes on a Cowardly Lion: The Biography of Bert Lahr and Prick Up Your Ears: The Biography of Joe Orton, which was made into a film.

He has twice won the George Jean Nathan Award for Dramatic Criticism. Lahr, whose stage adaptations have been performed around the world, received a Tony Award for co-writing Elaine Stritch at Liberty.

He divides his time between London and New York.

Reviews

[Michael Martin · Rating 4 out of 5]

John Lahr's Light Fantastic: Adventures in Theatre is a 1996 compilation of reviews and personality profiles culled from his great writing about theater in The New Yorker.

It covers everything from Dame Edna to Edward Albee, and is never less than entertaining.

The book is split into four categories: Comedians, Playwrights, Musicals, Productions.

It's not necessary to have seen the plays and productions that Lahr writes about, but of course, it adds to the appreciation of the book if you have.

The first section on Comedians was by far my favorite.

[Dick · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is broken up into four sections; Comedians, Playwrights, Musicals and Productions. The Comedians section is by far the strongest section for current readers as all of the other sections are largely made up of contemporaneous reviews of Broadway or London shows which have largely lost relevance.
The comedians section(around a hundred pages) is very good with a lengthy look at Barry Humpheries and profiles of others such as Peter Cook, Joe Orton, Bill Hicks etc. Having read John Lahr's Orton biography I knew he was a good writer and on that score I was not disappointed with the book. He is very good at capturing what is important and unique about show people. I just wish the book had more profiles and less reviews which have lost their relevance.
Having said that there are still moments of interest even in the reviews, whether it be a surprise early theatre appearance of an established star or an interesting look at a story or author. Overall one to get from the library or second hand shop rather than a must buy.

[Jack · Rating 4 out of 5]

Remember Burt Lahr, the Cowardly Lion of The Wizard of Oz? Well, his son John is a great writer who chose to write lots about theater, actors, and acting. This is a collection of short essays and reviews which can either inform you about their subjects or serve as a treatise on how writing on such subjects can be elegantly and engagingly done.

[Stewart · Rating 3 out of 5]

Excellent collection of the great theater critic's reviews culled from the archives of "The New Yorker."