DIRECTORS' HANDBOOK - "PLAYMAKER".
Sat, 14 Dec 2002, 10:06 amWalter Plinge1 post in thread
DIRECTORS' HANDBOOK - "PLAYMAKER".
Sat, 14 Dec 2002, 10:06 am"PLAYMAKER" by Rod O'West
My thanks indeed to all those who got back to me with help and advice when I posted my plea entitled "request for advice" (see below on the "classified" bulletin board).
It was about my handbook for inexperienced directors, called "PLAYMAKER". The doubt I had was that the best efforts of this aging native Pohm might be wrong for Australia. Also, I had no ideas on how to collect the money from yourselves into my English coffers.
Probably the best thing I can do is threefold: (1) tell you what the media in England made of my book, (2) ask an Australian pal to whom I have sent a copy of "PLAYMAKER" to attach his critique, whenever he completes it, to this posting, and (3) ask you to take a chance with cash as the least troublesome means of exchange - I'm advised that thirty Australian Dollars is not too much.
"PLAYMAKER" is a job-title I made up years ago to describe my work as director, playwright, designer, teacher, theatrical journalist and general dogsbody. When the copies of the little paperback came back from the printers, I sent one to "Amateur Stage" magazine in London, to see what they thought of it. After a few days, I rang them to make sure the copy had arrived, which is when they told me that a review would appear in their September issue, but they went all coy about WHAT they intended to print. Naturally, I feared the worst, which is why I was utterly gopsmacked with delight about what they said. Here is some of it:
"In the last ten years, according to our database, I have reviewed no less than a dozen erudite theses and handbooks on the art of directing plays, both in the amateur and professional. Most of these have been written by well-established writers about theatre. Unreservedly, I have to say that Mr. O'West's "PLAYMAKER" demonstrates a greater "hands-on" knowledge of his craft and an ability to communicate his guidance and information than any of those hitherto addressed."
"I cannot commend it highly enough. I have been a theatre director for over half a century and I was totally captivated by its every page of unpretentious sound advice and wisdom. And it is clearly written by a man whose love of his craft dominates his every breath."
"What a breath of fresh air and the best value any aspirant to the art of direction (and even established directors for that matter) will ever get from the modest expenditure of £10."
Honest, I didn't write that... I found out later that it was Charles Vance, the Editor of "Amateur Stage" who reviewed my book. The above are the best bits of a much longer piece. And there were MORE, in other publications... PHEW!! Mind you, it's very unlikely that I would have told you any adverse comments; my friends often comment that I always tell stories in which I'm the hero!
NOW... unless you want to wait until the Australian review is attached, I would be happy to mail you a copy in return for thirty Australian Dollars in banknotes mailed to "Rod O'West, 7 Chapman Court, Bridge Street, Warwick, ENGLAND CV34 5PH". Please make sure that your name and address are very clearly written and included in your envelope along with the money. (I know cash is a risk, but hey... sometimes we have to live a bit dangerously - I trust my postman.)
Feel free to e-mail me (or write to me at the above address if you want) about any help or advice I might be able to give you, unless it's concerning sex; I gave that up for Lent some years ago, and forgot to reinstate it. (Mrs. O'West is the one with the scowl.) JUST THEATRE!!!!
Best wishes to you and yours for the seasonals and ever after,
Rod O'West xxx
My thanks indeed to all those who got back to me with help and advice when I posted my plea entitled "request for advice" (see below on the "classified" bulletin board).
It was about my handbook for inexperienced directors, called "PLAYMAKER". The doubt I had was that the best efforts of this aging native Pohm might be wrong for Australia. Also, I had no ideas on how to collect the money from yourselves into my English coffers.
Probably the best thing I can do is threefold: (1) tell you what the media in England made of my book, (2) ask an Australian pal to whom I have sent a copy of "PLAYMAKER" to attach his critique, whenever he completes it, to this posting, and (3) ask you to take a chance with cash as the least troublesome means of exchange - I'm advised that thirty Australian Dollars is not too much.
"PLAYMAKER" is a job-title I made up years ago to describe my work as director, playwright, designer, teacher, theatrical journalist and general dogsbody. When the copies of the little paperback came back from the printers, I sent one to "Amateur Stage" magazine in London, to see what they thought of it. After a few days, I rang them to make sure the copy had arrived, which is when they told me that a review would appear in their September issue, but they went all coy about WHAT they intended to print. Naturally, I feared the worst, which is why I was utterly gopsmacked with delight about what they said. Here is some of it:
"In the last ten years, according to our database, I have reviewed no less than a dozen erudite theses and handbooks on the art of directing plays, both in the amateur and professional. Most of these have been written by well-established writers about theatre. Unreservedly, I have to say that Mr. O'West's "PLAYMAKER" demonstrates a greater "hands-on" knowledge of his craft and an ability to communicate his guidance and information than any of those hitherto addressed."
"I cannot commend it highly enough. I have been a theatre director for over half a century and I was totally captivated by its every page of unpretentious sound advice and wisdom. And it is clearly written by a man whose love of his craft dominates his every breath."
"What a breath of fresh air and the best value any aspirant to the art of direction (and even established directors for that matter) will ever get from the modest expenditure of £10."
Honest, I didn't write that... I found out later that it was Charles Vance, the Editor of "Amateur Stage" who reviewed my book. The above are the best bits of a much longer piece. And there were MORE, in other publications... PHEW!! Mind you, it's very unlikely that I would have told you any adverse comments; my friends often comment that I always tell stories in which I'm the hero!
NOW... unless you want to wait until the Australian review is attached, I would be happy to mail you a copy in return for thirty Australian Dollars in banknotes mailed to "Rod O'West, 7 Chapman Court, Bridge Street, Warwick, ENGLAND CV34 5PH". Please make sure that your name and address are very clearly written and included in your envelope along with the money. (I know cash is a risk, but hey... sometimes we have to live a bit dangerously - I trust my postman.)
Feel free to e-mail me (or write to me at the above address if you want) about any help or advice I might be able to give you, unless it's concerning sex; I gave that up for Lent some years ago, and forgot to reinstate it. (Mrs. O'West is the one with the scowl.) JUST THEATRE!!!!
Best wishes to you and yours for the seasonals and ever after,
Rod O'West xxx