Reviews
"Even on the page, Stella Adler projects to the back of the house. It is indeed the voice of a giant . . . vivid . . . as vibrant an impression as I've come across of the social and artistic chaos in which American playwrights of the early 20th century found themselves . . . [Adler's book] provides invaluable insights . . . and erupts into sustained verbal fireworks as you've never heard elsewhere." -Ben Brantley, The New York Times "Passionate, opinionated, and consummately dramatic, Stella Adler's voice and personality come through in every word . . . filled with insight, wit, and fervor . . . a lively and fascinating look into the beliefs and methods of the late teacher, who, twenty years after her death, is still regarded as one of the greatest in the history of American theater." - STAGE Magazine "For more than forty years, the lefty theatrical dynamo and acting teacher Stella Adler worked to bring a greater understanding of the human condition to the American stage. Her primary tools were her pleasure in the text and her often firsthand knowledge of the playwrights' lives. [This] is an essential text . . . Adler's perceptive humor sheds fresh perspective on masters ranging from O'Neill to Albee." -Hilton Als, The New Yorker "Arguably America's preeminent acting teacher . . . Adler's voice comes through loud and clear . . . Actors, acting students, and serious theater fans will savor the insight and inspiration served up here." - Library Journal "Essential reading for the actor as well as a bracingly original introduction (or refresher) for the general reader . . . Nearly every page shimmers with Adler's bounding personality and discerning grasp of her subjects." - Publishers Weekly "Brilliant . . . The indomitable Stella Adler . . . displays both her omnivorous intellect and decades of experience in this generous second volume . . . An exciting, inspiring and essential book." - Kirkus (starred review) "We usually go to scholars, dramaturgs, and critics for detailed analyses of the modern American theatre. Well, forget that! Here in this amazing book is Stella Adler in full and insightful bloom, preaching, exhorting, insulting, provoking, and always helping her many acting students. Through character study and scene breakdown within a specific play, she manages to give us a personal tour of the times and lives of the 20th Century's most illustrious playwrights. She knew them, she knew the world they lived in, and she remembers EVERYTHING! A brilliant book." -Andre Bishop, Lincoln Center Theater, "Arguably America's preeminent acting teacher . . . Adler's voice comes through loud and clear . . . Actors, acting students, and serious theater fans will savor the insight and inspiration served up here." - Library Journal "Essential reading for the actor as well as a bracingly original introduction (or refresher) for the general reader . . . Nearly every page shimmers with Adler's bounding personality and discerning grasp of her subjects." - Publishers Weekly "Brilliant . . . The indomitable Stella Adler . . . displays both her omnivorous intellect and decades of experience in this generous second volume . . . An exciting, inspiring and essential book." - Kirkus (starred review) "We usually go to scholars, dramaturgs, and critics for detailed analyses of the modern American theatre. Well, forget that! Here in this amazing book is Stella Adler in full and insightful bloom, preaching, exhorting, insulting, provoking, and always helping her many acting students. Through character study and scene breakdown within a specific play, she manages to give us a personal tour of the times and lives of the 20th Century's most illustrious playwrights. She knew them, she knew the world they lived in, and she remembers EVERYTHING! A brilliant book." -Andre Bishop, Lincoln Center Theater, "Passionate, opinionated, and consummately dramatic, Stella Adler's voice and personality come through in every word . . . filled with insight, wit, and fervor . . . a lively and fascinating look into the beliefs and methods of the late teacher, who, twenty years after her death, is still regarded as one of the greatest in the history of American theater." - STAGE Magazine "For more than forty years, the lefty theatrical dynamo and acting teacher Stella Adler worked to bring a greater understanding of the human condition to the American stage. Her primary tools were her pleasure in the text and her often firsthand knowledge of the playwrights' lives. [This] is an essential text . . . Adler's perceptive humor sheds fresh perspective on masters ranging from O'Neill to Albee." -Hilton Als, The New Yorker "Arguably America's preeminent acting teacher . . . Adler's voice comes through loud and clear . . . Actors, acting students, and serious theater fans will savor the insight and inspiration served up here." - Library Journal "Essential reading for the actor as well as a bracingly original introduction (or refresher) for the general reader . . . Nearly every page shimmers with Adler's bounding personality and discerning grasp of her subjects." - Publishers Weekly "Brilliant . . . The indomitable Stella Adler . . . displays both her omnivorous intellect and decades of experience in this generous second volume . . . An exciting, inspiring and essential book." - Kirkus (starred review) "We usually go to scholars, dramaturgs, and critics for detailed analyses of the modern American theatre. Well, forget that! Here in this amazing book is Stella Adler in full and insightful bloom, preaching, exhorting, insulting, provoking, and always helping her many acting students. Through character study and scene breakdown within a specific play, she manages to give us a personal tour of the times and lives of the 20th Century's most illustrious playwrights. She knew them, she knew the world they lived in, and she remembers EVERYTHING! A brilliant book." -Andre Bishop, Lincoln Center Theater, "Brilliant . . . The indomitable Stella Adler . . . displays both her omnivorous intellect and decades of experience in this generous second volume . . . An exciting, inspiring and essential book." - Kirkus (starred review) "We usually go to scholars, dramaturgs, and critics for detailed analyses of the modern American theatre. Well, forget that! Here in this amazing book is Stella Adler in full and insightful bloom, preaching, exhorting, insulting, provoking, and always helping her many acting students. Through character study and scene breakdown within a specific play, she manages to give us a personal tour of the times and lives of the 20th Century's most illustrious playwrights. She knew them, she knew the world they lived in, and she remembers EVERYTHING! A brilliant book." -Andre Bishop, Lincoln Center Theater, "For more than forty years, the lefty theatrical dynamo and acting teacher Stella Adler worked to bring a greater understanding of the human condition to the American stage. Her primary tools were her pleasure in the text and her often firsthand knowledge of the playwrights' lives. [This] is an essential text . . . Adler's perceptive humor sheds fresh perspective on masters ranging from O'Neill to Albee." -Hilton Als, The New Yorker "Arguably America's preeminent acting teacher . . . Adler's voice comes through loud and clear . . . Actors, acting students, and serious theater fans will savor the insight and inspiration served up here." - Library Journal "Essential reading for the actor as well as a bracingly original introduction (or refresher) for the general reader . . . Nearly every page shimmers with Adler's bounding personality and discerning grasp of her subjects." - Publishers Weekly "Brilliant . . . The indomitable Stella Adler . . . displays both her omnivorous intellect and decades of experience in this generous second volume . . . An exciting, inspiring and essential book." - Kirkus (starred review) "We usually go to scholars, dramaturgs, and critics for detailed analyses of the modern American theatre. Well, forget that! Here in this amazing book is Stella Adler in full and insightful bloom, preaching, exhorting, insulting, provoking, and always helping her many acting students. Through character study and scene breakdown within a specific play, she manages to give us a personal tour of the times and lives of the 20th Century's most illustrious playwrights. She knew them, she knew the world they lived in, and she remembers EVERYTHING! A brilliant book." -Andre Bishop, Lincoln Center Theater, "Essential reading for the actor as well as a bracingly original introduction (or refresher) for the general reader . . . Nearly every page shimmers with Adler's bounding personality and discerning grasp of her subjects." - Publishers Weekly "Brilliant . . . The indomitable Stella Adler . . . displays both her omnivorous intellect and decades of experience in this generous second volume . . . An exciting, inspiring and essential book." - Kirkus (starred review) "We usually go to scholars, dramaturgs, and critics for detailed analyses of the modern American theatre. Well, forget that! Here in this amazing book is Stella Adler in full and insightful bloom, preaching, exhorting, insulting, provoking, and always helping her many acting students. Through character study and scene breakdown within a specific play, she manages to give us a personal tour of the times and lives of the 20th Century's most illustrious playwrights. She knew them, she knew the world they lived in, and she remembers EVERYTHING! A brilliant book." -Andre Bishop, Lincoln Center Theater, "A grande dame of the American theater . . . Adler's voice pops into life on the pages . . . a valuable guidebook . . . illuminating for actors and lay readers alike . . . fascinating . . . often hilarious [and] sprinkled with a fair bit of dish . . . Adler knows these plays the way a master violist knows her instrument." - The Boston Globe "Even on the page, Stella Adler projects to the back of the house. It is indeed the voice of a giant . . . vivid . . . as vibrant an impression as I've come across of the social and artistic chaos in which American playwrights of the early 20th century found themselves . . . [Adler's book] provides invaluable insights . . . and erupts into sustained verbal fireworks as you've never heard elsewhere." -Ben Brantley, The New York Times "Passionate, opinionated, and consummately dramatic, Stella Adler's voice and personality come through in every word . . . filled with insight, wit, and fervor . . . a lively and fascinating look into the beliefs and methods of the late teacher, who, twenty years after her death, is still regarded as one of the greatest in the history of American theater." - STAGE Magazine "For more than forty years, the lefty theatrical dynamo and acting teacher Stella Adler worked to bring a greater understanding of the human condition to the American stage. Her primary tools were her pleasure in the text and her often firsthand knowledge of the playwrights' lives. [This] is an essential text . . . Adler's perceptive humor sheds fresh perspective on masters ranging from O'Neill to Albee." -Hilton Als, The New Yorker "Arguably America's preeminent acting teacher . . . Adler's voice comes through loud and clear . . . Actors, acting students, and serious theater fans will savor the insight and inspiration served up here." - Library Journal "Essential reading for the actor as well as a bracingly original introduction (or refresher) for the general reader . . . Nearly every page shimmers with Adler's bounding personality and discerning grasp of her subjects." - Publishers Weekly "Brilliant . . . The indomitable Stella Adler . . . displays both her omnivorous intellect and decades of experience in this generous second volume . . . An exciting, inspiring and essential book." - Kirkus (starred review) "We usually go to scholars, dramaturgs, and critics for detailed analyses of the modern American theatre. Well, forget that! Here in this amazing book is Stella Adler in full and insightful bloom, preaching, exhorting, insulting, provoking, and always helping her many acting students. Through character study and scene breakdown within a specific play, she manages to give us a personal tour of the times and lives of the 20th Century's most illustrious playwrights. She knew them, she knew the world they lived in, and she remembers EVERYTHING! A brilliant book." -Andre Bishop, Lincoln Center Theater
