Dame Beryl Bainbridge (1932 - 2010) was one of the most successful and loved contemporary novelists. Her recent novels have included An Awfully Big Adventure, Master Georgie, The Birthday Boys and According to Queenie.
'...highly entertaining and informed view of the London
theatre.'--Sanford Lakoff "Liverpool Daily Post "
'...Her introductory essay is beguilling - when, please, will Dame
Beryl write her autobiography.'--Sanford Lakoff "Times "
'...The reviews in this book are mainly of a random selection of
plays in the 1990s and will appeal to anyone wanting a browse
through that decade, not only of the plays, but also some of the
sociological phenomena of that decade, in the always entertaining
company of the author.'--Sanford Lakoff "West End Extra "
'This volume has a wonderful and insightful introductory essay,
whilst also containing comment on the work of those such as Alan
Bennett and Alan Rickman, and some delightful anecdotes
fromBainbridge's early days in the theatre.' Good Book Guide,
01/09/2006
'... I was not a stranger to the world of the stage. At the age of
five I became a member of the Thelma Bickerstaff tap-dancing troupe
appearing at the Garrick Theatre, Southport. Four years later I
went solo and sang Kiss Me Goodnight Sergeant Major to an audience
of wounded soldiers transported from the local hospital.'
'...'--, "West End Extra "
'...Her introductory essay is beguilling - '--, "Times "
'Bainbridge the novelist can't resist the essential absurdity of
people pretending not to be themselves eight times a week... the
sending-up, however, is done with great affection. Bainbridge can
never be a great critic of the theatre because she loves it too
deeply and still identifies with people on the other side of the
proscenium arch.'--Kate Saunders "Sunday Times "
'Contains fascinating insights... as well as delightful sketches of
actors.' Good Book Guide
'Enjoyable... there is a lack of snobbishness in the columns
collected here; Bainbridge is as happy to sit through Shakespeare
as she is through a farce or a muscial. She still marvels at the
magic of theatre and her reviews lack the dour quality of so many
braodsheet hacks... Front Row is an ideal book to gorge all at once
or dip into every now and then... an idiosyncratic record of the
last decade of the theatre, but also an intimate portrayal of one
of our greatest writers and is perhaps as close as we will ever get
to a full autobiography.' Attitude Magazine
'The refreshing aspect of this collection of reviews is that you
feel they have been written by someone who is open to the
experience of what she is about to see without prejudging it... her
real strength is her outline of the story, which, as one of our
foremost novelists, is hardly surprising. The emphasis in all of
these reviews is on a succinct appraisal of the narrative and an
appreciation of the writer... will appeal to anyone wanting a
browse through that decade, not only of the plays, but also some of
the sociological phonomena of that decade, in the always
entertaining company of the author.' Camden New Journal
'Your professional critic is inclined to go to see a play with
their knives sharpened and ready to use if it doesn't meet their
preconceived expectations, whereas Dame Beryl goes more as a
punter.' Islington Tribune
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