Although he has won plaudits and awards for work in film; television; and on stage; Tony Nardis most recent headlines have been earned by his TWO LETTERS hellip; And Counting!. Two Letters is based on two actual letters sent to ldquo;middle-menrdquo; of the Canadian cultural scene: a film/television producer and two theatre critics. Letter One articulates an actor/writers struggle with cultural stereotypes in Canadian theatre/film/TV. Letter Two challenges misconceptions about commedia dellarte by present-day theatre critics and directors. It explores a history of an actor-less theatre culture in Canada at the hands of directors theatre; in which; increasingly; a tradition of over-trained actors and under-trained directors is encouraged. "...And Counting!" (Letter Three) is a postmortem of Two Letters; and a journey into the present state of theatre; culture (and funding).
#3750312 in eBooks 2012-03-13 2012-03-13File Name: B00FJNFM7Y
Review
4 of 5 people found the following review helpful. Excellent book; reaches into both heart and mind...By Customer`Place and memory came to me while conducting research on a related subject. Out of the pile of books about the history of late imperial China on my desk; it stands out as an unusually excellent read. Though under strict orders to `read just one chapter; I went on and am now deep into the whole book. I could not help myself; because it reads like a beautiful story; full of emotion. It is packed with knowledgeable insights; and right from the start appeals to the readers heart and mind. Most importantly; the composition of this book transcends by far most standard research material about memory and place in China. Usually; this sort of material is interesting and full of facts; but going beyond dry facts is difficult. Piecing together a history of places in China is not trivial; I find that many times I give up on asking questions like `so; what was this before the road was built? or `why is the neighborhood called `thousand lotus pagoda hill; because it is very plausible that there is no answer around.This is why this book is so unique: the author; Prof. Vera Schwarcz; has avoided the fatigue and confusion of seeking truth from facts; and bravely delved into the clarity of history as the story of people. In this sense; the book is not only a great read and a very moving story about a garden long gone; but an inspiration not to give up on the search for the roots of change that surround us. I recommend it very warmly to anyone with an interest in memory and remembering in China and elsewhere.