Conversations With Peter Brook

by Margaret Croyden

Libro usado en buenas condiciones, por su antiguedad podria contener señales normales de uso

Genres: Theatre, Drama

336 pages, Paperback

First published May 21, 2003

Reviews

[Maria · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read the vast majority of this book a year ago, but the copy I had stayed in Mexico and I did not. The book is a series of conversations between Peter Brook and Margaret Croyden about his work. The conversations take place in the 30 year period between 1970 and 2000.

The topics are interesting are interesting as it the relationship between the interviewer and the interviewee. Brook can be by turns prickly, wise, arrogant, insightful... While Croyden can be inquisitive, servile, rational, defensive....

Much of what Brook says strikes me as too declarative. I am wary of absolutes. But, I also loved many of his descriptions. The chapter on "The Tragedy of Carmen" was particularly appealing. I would have loved to see that production.

Of all of his ideas, the one that remains most strongly with me after a year is in the chapter on The International Center of Theater Research. Croyden asks him "Why would theater be necessary or unnecessary?" and in his response he says,

"If it isn't something people in a community demand, that people feel they can't live without, without which people would feel deprived, as if you took the sunshine away - if theater doesn't evoke the same need, it is not a real theater."

Then he goes on to tell a beautiful story about Thanksgiving in New York as an example.

All in all, it is a lovely book and one I am sure I will return to in the future.

[Mark · Rating 3 out of 5]

I've gone back and read this collection again; if I could, I'd now change my rating from 3 stars to 4 stars ... reviewer's remorse :)