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The Power of One: The Solo Play for Playwrights, Actors, and Directors
This book demonstrates techniques of writing, acting, and directing that encourage the reader to create a personal theatrical experience.
240 pages, Paperback
First published February 7, 2000
16 people want to read
About the author
Louis E. Catron
16 books9 followersLouis E. Catron was a professor of Theatre and Speech at William & Mary from 1966-2002 and Director of the William & Mary Theatre. He held a Ph.D. from Southern Illinois University, and was the author of several plays and books on playwriting.
From a Faculty and Staff Announcement Email from Provost Michael Halleran on November 3, 2010:
"With deep sadness, I write to inform you that Professor Emeritus Louis E. Catron died on October 30, following a long illness. Catron was Professor of Theatre, Speech, and Dance at William & Mary for more than 35 years. A beloved and highly esteemed instructor, Professor Catron is remembered as "a special teacher who continued to nurture former students years after they left William & Mary."
Distinguished as both a teacher and director, Professor Catron received the Virginia Council of Higher Education's Outstanding Faculty Award, was twice named an "Outstanding Educator of America," and was elected to the William & Mary chapter of Phi Beta Kappa. He directed more than 50 William & Mary Theatre productions, setting attendance records with many of his musicals.
In addition to his active teaching career, Professor Catron was also an accomplished playwright whose works were performed thousands of times around the world. He wrote several books, many of which became standard college texts. A special source of pride to Professor Catron was that many of his students went on to become successful actors, playwrights, screenwriters, and novelists, penning more than 40 books themselves.
A graduate of Millikin University, Professor Catron earned his Ph.D. from Southern Illinois University. After serving in the Navy during the Korean War, he found success as an actor before embarking upon a teaching career. He first joined the College in 1966, earning promotions to associate professor in 1969 and professor in 1974. Upon his retirement from William & Mary in 2002, he was named Professor of Theatre, Speech and Dance, Emeritus. In retirement, he continued to teach courses for the Christopher Wren Association and was active in the community, volunteering for Meals on Wheels and Faith in Action.
Professor Catron is survived by his son, two brothers, and a sister. A memorial service is scheduled at 2 p.m. Sunday, November 7, at the Williamsburg United Methodist Church on Jamestown Road.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorials to the Louis E. Catron Scholarship Fund for Artistic Development which supports W&M students who focus on studio art, creative writing, applied music, or theatre arts. Gifts should be directed to the Office of Development, College of William & Mary, P.O. Box 8795, Williamsburg, VA 23187-8795."
https://scrc-kb.libraries.wm.edu/loui...
https://www.wm.edu/as/charlescenter/s...
From a Faculty and Staff Announcement Email from Provost Michael Halleran on November 3, 2010:
"With deep sadness, I write to inform you that Professor Emeritus Louis E. Catron died on October 30, following a long illness. Catron was Professor of Theatre, Speech, and Dance at William & Mary for more than 35 years. A beloved and highly esteemed instructor, Professor Catron is remembered as "a special teacher who continued to nurture former students years after they left William & Mary."
Distinguished as both a teacher and director, Professor Catron received the Virginia Council of Higher Education's Outstanding Faculty Award, was twice named an "Outstanding Educator of America," and was elected to the William & Mary chapter of Phi Beta Kappa. He directed more than 50 William & Mary Theatre productions, setting attendance records with many of his musicals.
In addition to his active teaching career, Professor Catron was also an accomplished playwright whose works were performed thousands of times around the world. He wrote several books, many of which became standard college texts. A special source of pride to Professor Catron was that many of his students went on to become successful actors, playwrights, screenwriters, and novelists, penning more than 40 books themselves.
A graduate of Millikin University, Professor Catron earned his Ph.D. from Southern Illinois University. After serving in the Navy during the Korean War, he found success as an actor before embarking upon a teaching career. He first joined the College in 1966, earning promotions to associate professor in 1969 and professor in 1974. Upon his retirement from William & Mary in 2002, he was named Professor of Theatre, Speech and Dance, Emeritus. In retirement, he continued to teach courses for the Christopher Wren Association and was active in the community, volunteering for Meals on Wheels and Faith in Action.
Professor Catron is survived by his son, two brothers, and a sister. A memorial service is scheduled at 2 p.m. Sunday, November 7, at the Williamsburg United Methodist Church on Jamestown Road.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorials to the Louis E. Catron Scholarship Fund for Artistic Development which supports W&M students who focus on studio art, creative writing, applied music, or theatre arts. Gifts should be directed to the Office of Development, College of William & Mary, P.O. Box 8795, Williamsburg, VA 23187-8795."
https://scrc-kb.libraries.wm.edu/loui...
https://www.wm.edu/as/charlescenter/s...
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Displaying 1 of 1 review
December 27, 2025
2025 re-read (originally read 2015)
I remember this being my favorite book of the series on my first read ten years ago. Today I'm not so sure.
I am really glad that I stopped this time to read *Salem's Lot* before starting this book. I remember being bewildered and frustrated the first time around at how much of the middle of the book is occupied by Callahan and his seemingly random and unconnected story of him traveling through alternate realities fighting vampires. But the thing is, even this time around knowing Callahan and his story, I still don't really know why he's here.
I suspect that King felt the similarities between *Lot* and *Wizard and Glass*, saw a little bit of Ben Mears in Will Dearborn and a little bit of Susan Norton in Susan Delgado, and felt the pull to weave the threads together.
On the other maybe he was just there so that *Salem's Lot* itself, and by extension Stephen King, can appear at the end, blending Roland's world with our own.
Maybe it's a little bit of all of the above.
Anyway, the actual "Wolves of the Calla" part, the part that's all *Seven Samurai* is fantastic and can't be beat. That's the part I remember loving. The arrival in town, the politicking and the smiling and the handshaking and the plotting and scheming and planning, and the betrayal. The slow slow burn and then how it suddenly comes together so fast and so violently in the end. It's just great.
And it's really great on the heals of *Wizard and Glass*. In the latter, we see a young and inexperienced Roland arrive at a small town and save it. And in the former, we see an aging and experienced Roland do the same with confidence and mastery.
This was the first book in the series that Frank Muller didn't read, which was sad and also really too bad. George Guidall did a fine job. But it's possible that Muller was simply the best there ever was.
Mixed bag on the portrayal of women in this book. The Sisters of Oriza certainly played a major role in saving the day. And Susannah played her role in that capacity. But she otherwise didn't have very much to do the whole book long except be Black and pregnant. Eddie and Jake both got to do twice as much as she did. Fortunately I think she has a much larger and more important role in the next book. The title bears her name at least.
I remember this being my favorite book of the series on my first read ten years ago. Today I'm not so sure.
I am really glad that I stopped this time to read *Salem's Lot* before starting this book. I remember being bewildered and frustrated the first time around at how much of the middle of the book is occupied by Callahan and his seemingly random and unconnected story of him traveling through alternate realities fighting vampires. But the thing is, even this time around knowing Callahan and his story, I still don't really know why he's here.
I suspect that King felt the similarities between *Lot* and *Wizard and Glass*, saw a little bit of Ben Mears in Will Dearborn and a little bit of Susan Norton in Susan Delgado, and felt the pull to weave the threads together.
On the other maybe he was just there so that *Salem's Lot* itself, and by extension Stephen King, can appear at the end, blending Roland's world with our own.
Maybe it's a little bit of all of the above.
Anyway, the actual "Wolves of the Calla" part, the part that's all *Seven Samurai* is fantastic and can't be beat. That's the part I remember loving. The arrival in town, the politicking and the smiling and the handshaking and the plotting and scheming and planning, and the betrayal. The slow slow burn and then how it suddenly comes together so fast and so violently in the end. It's just great.
And it's really great on the heals of *Wizard and Glass*. In the latter, we see a young and inexperienced Roland arrive at a small town and save it. And in the former, we see an aging and experienced Roland do the same with confidence and mastery.
This was the first book in the series that Frank Muller didn't read, which was sad and also really too bad. George Guidall did a fine job. But it's possible that Muller was simply the best there ever was.
Mixed bag on the portrayal of women in this book. The Sisters of Oriza certainly played a major role in saving the day. And Susannah played her role in that capacity. But she otherwise didn't have very much to do the whole book long except be Black and pregnant. Eddie and Jake both got to do twice as much as she did. Fortunately I think she has a much larger and more important role in the next book. The title bears her name at least.
Displaying 1 of 1 review