Antony Shers insider journal is a brilliant exploded view of a great actor at work ndash; modest and gifted; self-centred and selfless ndash; a genius capable of transporting us backstage Craig Raine; The Spectator (Books of the Year)Year of the Fat Knight is Antony Shers account ndash; splendidly supplemented by his own paintings and sketches ndash; of researching; rehearsing and performing one of Shakespeares best-known and most popular characters; Sir John Falstaff; in the Royal Shakespeare Companys 2014 production of both parts of Henry IV; directed by Gregory Doran.Both the production and Shers Falstaff were acclaimed by criti and audiences ndash; with Sher winning the Criti Circle Award for Best Shakespearean Performance ndash; and the shows transferred from Stratford to London; and then to New York; where Charles Isherwood in the New York Times described Shers Falstaff as one of the greatest performances Ive ever seen.This fascinating book tells us how Sher had initial doubts about playing the part at all; how he sought to reconcile Falstaffs obesity; drunkenness; cowardice and charm; how he wrestled with the fat suit needed to bulk him up; and how he explored the complexities and contradictions of this comic yet often dangerous personality. On the way; he paints a uniquely close-up portrait of the RSC at work.Year of the Fat Knight is a terrific read; rich in humour and with a built-in tension as opening night draws relentlessly nearer. It also stands as a celebration of the craft of character acting. It ranks alongside Year of the King ndash; Shers seminal account of playing Richard III ndash; as a consummate depiction of the creation of a giant Shakespearean role.Antony Sherrsquo;s insider journal is a brilliant exploded view of a great actor at work mdash; modest and gifted; self-centred and selfless mdash; a genius capable of transporting us backstage- Craig Raine Spectator (Books of the Year)lsquo;A fascinating book; whether you love Shakespeare; whether you love theatre; even if you donrsquo;t... unfailingly honest... a brilliant portrayal of a character actorrsquo;- Claudia Winkelman BBC Radio 2 Arts ShowA brilliantly full-bodied account that mixes the practicalities of a performance with artistic ambitions. You learn as much about Sher himself as you do about Falstaff... far more instructive about acting than any number of how-to guides- WhatsOnStageA vivid account... Sher has an artists eye... filled with etacy- The TimesFar from simply a primer on the art of acting... [Shers] tone is relaxed; intimate; even confidential; open about his personal foibles and relationships... a book about life as well as about acting- The SpectatorOne of the most compelling non-fiction books Ive read in a long time... chatty; frank; funny and enlightening... anyone wanting to know exactly how a show is created from beginning to end will find it all here... I enjoyed Shers earlier book; Year of the King; about his journey to create Richard III; but this is even better- The Stage
2010-11-18 2010-11-18File Name: B00VJTWC84
Review
6 of 6 people found the following review helpful. AmazingBy GregThis book transcends the noise of our existence. Weils thought is simply remarkable and I am deeply appreciative to McCullough for her excellent research and summation.
