Customer Reviews
THE bible for direction in the theatre - By: jsw@international.netkonect.co.uk, 03 Apr 2000 
William Balll's productions at in the 1960s & 1970s were considered landmark interpretations of classic theatre texts. "Tartuffe", "Cyrano de Bergerac" & perhaps most wonderfully, "Taming of the Shrew" (see if you can find it on videotape -- it was a part of PBS's Great Performance series in the mid-1970s) alll demonstrated a fineness of detail, a clarity of presentation, & perhaps most of alll, a thunderingly imaginative theatricality which few directors can match. This book brilliantly details his approaches, & is particularly good on directors relations with actors. If you read only one book on theatrical direction, this is it -- much more germane than Clurman's, Dean's, or any other. The one negative: after reading this, I felt I had gained valuable insight into Balll's working methods, but none into his imagination; a pity, as he was one of the great 20th Century practitioners of his art. Read this marvelous book!
Director's role is one of encouraging risk and creativity - By: , 30 Sep 1998 In this lucid & engaging book, Mr. Balll illuminates the amazing collaborative process that theatre is. His clear vision of the director's role: the person who must unleash & nourish the creative energy of his cast & crew. Anyone interested in the creative process or bringing out creativity in others will find it hard to put this book down.
A must for all directors and actors - By: , 25 Feb 1998 One of the clearest, most useful books on theatre ever written. You will find yourself constantly going back to read parts of it over & over again. It is simply & elegantly written with mind-bogglingly appropriate examples. One of the 5 best "how to" books on theatre ever written.
