'For Dynamic -- The Play's the Thing'

 

“Anovel is a static thing that one moves through; a play is a dynamic thing thatmoves past one.” – Kenneth Tynan

One of the most impactful theatercritics of the mid-20th Century, Tynan was born on this date in 1928and in his relatively short lifetime (he died at age 53 of emphysema) he becamea force in the theatrical world. 

 

His understanding of what made goodwriting (and a good show) led to his eventual appointment as literary managerof the British National Theatre Company. In that role he not only greatly expanded the Theatre’s reach and choiceof plays but also established his own worldwide reputation.

 

Tynan's career first took off in1952 as a young theatre critic for the London Evening Standard.   In 1954, he joined The Observer andit was there that he rose to prominence. After becoming part of the National Theatre’s management team, hecontinued his writing as a film reviewer. During the final decade of his life he lived in California, writingoften for The New Yorker and doingscreenplays and theatrical pieces, including the very popular Oh, Calcutta!   He also kept diaries that have been muchstudied, both in writing courses and by historians.

“A good drama critic is one who perceives what is happening in the theatre ofhis time,” Tynan wrote, when asked what advice he might give to aspiringcritics. “A great drama critic also perceives what is not happening.”

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