A Book for Theatre Lovers
This novel takes place in England in the early 20th century. It features numerous on-and-off stage adventures of an acting aspirant’s youth and theatrical encounters with a magician, stowing away on a shipload of touring actors, attending acting school, serving as an apprentice with the Birmingham and Liverpool Repertory Companies, and touring with a “fit-up.” It is an extraordinary, evolutionary education in theatre from the very basic stage movements to the plots of scores of contemporary productions, the characterizations of stage performers, chores of backstage crew, and problems and issues faced by Thespians of the time. Books may be obtained through the publisher, AuthorHouse; Amazon and Barnes & Noble and as an ebook or from the author at wgthomas@cox.net.
A Sample of Reviews
“Upstage, Downstage, Cross is, just like the title, a delightful and sparkling account of an English boy’s love affair with the theatre and his wacky and wild, albeit imaginative attempts to become an actor in spite of family opposition and his own unexpected limitations in the art of acting…If you are an aficionado or love English theatre, you’ll be riveted by the stories of the theatre in the period before WWWI, through the war and its aftermath. This was a period of transition from the days when there were dozens of theatre companies touring Britain and it was the entertainment of masses, to the beginning and then rise of the moving pictures” that drew away the usual theatre audiences to the movies…The style of the book is sparkling with wit and adventure and vignettes of the theatre. Bill Thomas writes in the wonderful tradition of English authors, although he does avoid the Dickensonsian downers. His story is populated with good people, which is a breath of fresh air. Pick up this book and enjoy.” Adriana Renescu, Author
“Your affection for the Bard and English theatre shines through in every way. I particularly dig stowing away on the Lusitania… Great Stuff…One thing I learned is that I definitely don’t want to be a stage manager. Much too hard. Your attention to detail is ever impressive.” John Hall, former feature writer, Orange County Register
“I found your book a very insightful look into life in middle class England during the early 20th century. I enjoyed the way you incorporated a wealth of historical information into a delightful story of a young boy coming of age while pursuing his dreams of becoming an actor. ..I also learned much about the development of English theatre and the way the medium transitioned from the classical and vaudevillian to real life dramas…Overall; I was greatly impressed by the depth of research evidenced in the novel regarding English theatre and its influence on society during that period of tumultuous change.” John DeNizio, member, San Clemente Book Club
“…he writes of a theatre world that no longer exists, but he captures the excitement of that era through his main character, who has a love for the theatre and lets nothing stand in his way to be an actor. Reading Bill’s book I realized I was being led by a master writer. His descriptions and detail can only come from one who has seen and retained what he saw and heard. His writing reveals a wit that has been fine tuned with a long and fruitful life. “Herman Sillas, Attorney and writer.
“Never having any training whatsoever in the performing arts, this book was really an eye-opener for me…I had no idea how a director extracts from his actors the necessary creativity and believability required for the success of a production. Bill did a fine job of making the role of a theatrical director clear, useful, and entertaining. I also very much liked the description of (the main character’s) female theatrical teacher and coach…I found her a fully believable character and, again, her presence provided useful insight as to how actors are shaped, molded and become accomplished. For the theatrical novice, this book was both interesting and enlightening.” Lewis Altenburg, Engineer and San Clemente Book Club Member
“This is a terrific book focused toward theatre aficionados. It would be extremely valuable for university students in that field giving them the reality information that would be very helpful as they pursue their careers.” John Gaffney, Retired Public Relations Executive, San Clemente Book Club Member
“Upstage, Downstage, Cross is an extremely well-written gook that gives the reader a glimpse into the trials and tribulations of a young person’s effort and desire to be part of the theatrical life of the early twentieth century. The depth of historical details is extensive and the reader will be impressed.” Ed Hubler, San Clemente Book Club Member
“To enjoy Upstage, Downstage, Cross, it helps to be an anglophile and a lover of the theatre. My wife and I fell in love with the British theatre traditions, language, and life style, and the chapter on London Theatre represents a ‘bucket list’ item. I would love to do the same as the ‘boys,’ and go to London Theatre day and night. Rupert’s (leading character) adventures as a runaway and then as a stowaway were highlights. The story of the fate of the ‘Lusitania” is well known. German submarines did not sway Rupert’s ambitions to become an actor. The book is loaded with information about plays, actors and the evolution of acting. The reader will learn a wide variety of facts that will enhance future theater experiences.” Dick Friedl, Marketing Director, San Clemente Book Club Member
A Book for Theatre Lovers
This novel takes place in England in the early 20th century. It features numerous on-and-off stage adventures of an acting aspirant’s youth and theatrical encounters with a magician, stowing away on a shipload of touring actors, attending acting school, serving as an apprentice with the Birmingham and Liverpool Repertory Companies, and touring with a “fit-up.” It is an extraordinary, evolutionary education in theatre from the very basic stage movements to the plots of scores of contemporary productions, the characterizations of stage performers, chores of backstage crew, and problems and issues faced by Thespians of the time. Books may be obtained through the publisher, AuthorHouse; Amazon and Barnes & Noble and as an ebook or from the author at wgthomas@cox.net.
A Sample of Reviews
“Upstage, Downstage, Cross is, just like the title, a delightful and sparkling account of an English boy’s love affair with the theatre and his wacky and wild, albeit imaginative attempts to become an actor in spite of family opposition and his own unexpected limitations in the art of acting…If you are an aficionado or love English theatre, you’ll be riveted by the stories of the theatre in the period before WWWI, through the war and its aftermath. This was a period of transition from the days when there were dozens of theatre companies touring Britain and it was the entertainment of masses, to the beginning and then rise of the moving pictures” that drew away the usual theatre audiences to the movies…The style of the book is sparkling with wit and adventure and vignettes of the theatre. Bill Thomas writes in the wonderful tradition of English authors, although he does avoid the Dickensonsian downers. His story is populated with good people, which is a breath of fresh air. Pick up this book and enjoy.” Adriana Renescu, Author
“Your affection for the Bard and English theatre shines through in every way. I particularly dig stowing away on the Lusitania… Great Stuff…One thing I learned is that I definitely don’t want to be a stage manager. Much too hard. Your attention to detail is ever impressive.” John Hall, former feature writer, Orange County Register
“I found your book a very insightful look into life in middle class England during the early 20th century. I enjoyed the way you incorporated a wealth of historical information into a delightful story of a young boy coming of age while pursuing his dreams of becoming an actor. ..I also learned much about the development of English theatre and the way the medium transitioned from the classical and vaudevillian to real life dramas…Overall; I was greatly impressed by the depth of research evidenced in the novel regarding English theatre and its influence on society during that period of tumultuous change.” John DeNizio, member, San Clemente Book Club
“…he writes of a theatre world that no longer exists, but he captures the excitement of that era through his main character, who has a love for the theatre and lets nothing stand in his way to be an actor. Reading Bill’s book I realized I was being led by a master writer. His descriptions and detail can only come from one who has seen and retained what he saw and heard. His writing reveals a wit that has been fine tuned with a long and fruitful life. “Herman Sillas, Attorney and writer.
“Never having any training whatsoever in the performing arts, this book was really an eye-opener for me…I had no idea how a director extracts from his actors the necessary creativity and believability required for the success of a production. Bill did a fine job of making the role of a theatrical director clear, useful, and entertaining. I also very much liked the description of (the main character’s) female theatrical teacher and coach…I found her a fully believable character and, again, her presence provided useful insight as to how actors are shaped, molded and become accomplished. For the theatrical novice, this book was both interesting and enlightening.” Lewis Altenburg, Engineer and San Clemente Book Club Member
“This is a terrific book focused toward theatre aficionados. It would be extremely valuable for university students in that field giving them the reality information that would be very helpful as they pursue their careers.” John Gaffney, Retired Public Relations Executive, San Clemente Book Club Member
“Upstage, Downstage, Cross is an extremely well-written gook that gives the reader a glimpse into the trials and tribulations of a young person’s effort and desire to be part of the theatrical life of the early twentieth century. The depth of historical details is extensive and the reader will be impressed.” Ed Hubler, San Clemente Book Club Member
“To enjoy Upstage, Downstage, Cross, it helps to be an anglophile and a lover of the theatre. My wife and I fell in love with the British theatre traditions, language, and life style, and the chapter on London Theatre represents a ‘bucket list’ item. I would love to do the same as the ‘boys,’ and go to London Theatre day and night. Rupert’s (leading character) adventures as a runaway and then as a stowaway were highlights. The story of the fate of the ‘Lusitania” is well known. German submarines did not sway Rupert’s ambitions to become an actor. The book is loaded with information about plays, actors and the evolution of acting. The reader will learn a wide variety of facts that will enhance future theater experiences.” Dick Friedl, Marketing Director, San Clemente Book Club Member
Upstage, Downstage, Cross
400
Upstage, Downstage, Cross
400
Product Details
| ISBN-13: | 9781468501926 |
|---|---|
| Publisher: | AuthorHouse |
| Publication date: | 06/01/2012 |
| Sold by: | Barnes & Noble |
| Format: | eBook |
| Pages: | 400 |
| File size: | 409 KB |