Thunder in the AirFor four hundred years the London stage has nurtured great actors. In this celebration of their achievements, Brian Masters recreates their impact in performance, ranging from Thomas Betterton to David Garrick, Edmund Kean, Mrs Siddons, Henry Irving and dozens of others, close to the present day with Laurence Olivier and John Gielgud. Arguing that the work of great actors does not die with them but is passed down in the work of today's stars, Brian Masters brings together the rich tapestry of a unique tradition, utilising both hilarious anecdotal evidence and historical fact. |
Contents
List of Illustrations | 7 |
Learning the Lines | 38 |
Total Surrender | 71 |
Copyright | |
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Common terms and phrases
acting actor actor-manager actor's art actress Antony Sher appeared applause audience beauty Burbage called century character Charles Macklin comedy comic Covent Garden David Garrick Day-Lewis Dionysus Donald Sinden drama dressing Drury Lane eccentricity Edmund Kean Ellen Terry emotion eyes face feel felt film Gambon ghost Hamlet Hammerton hand Hazlitt Henry Irving Iago imagination Irving's James Agate John Gielgud John Philip Kemble Judi Dench Juliet Kean's King leading actor Lear Leigh Hunt London look Macready Mathews McKellen Michael never night Olivier Olivier's once Othello passion Patrick Campbell performance person play player Ralph Fiennes recognise rehearsal Richard role Royal Russell Beale Sarah Siddons scene seen Shakespeare Shaw Shylock Simon Callow Simon Russell Beale speak speech stage star stardom story style Suchet talent technique theatre theatrical Thomas Betterton thought told truth voice Walpole William Wolfit wonder words wrote young