The sound of two hands clapping

by Kenneth Tynan

The English drama critic and producer celebrates and commemorates various individual performers, performances, and productions and places and issues eliciting his enthusiasm.

256 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1976

Reviews

[Priscilla · Rating 4 out of 5]

Through my college major and afterwards my interest in the theatre (particularly British), I collected books of plays and criticism as well as biographies over the years. I don't remember where this book came from but I've had it forever. Kenneth Tynan was a name known to me, someone whose reviews I had read from time to time. Bur this book was a surprise. A mishmash of essays and interviews, I found it fascination (Olivier's Othello at the National) and nauseating (his unpublished Playboy interview which delved into the murky world of his own sexual sadomasochism.) The latter led me on a companion search for more background on Tynan and boy did I find it. His treatment of women is pretty well documented and his sexual proclivities ended in two divorces.

His writing is remarkable but subject matter off-putting for a 21st century reader. I couldn't finish the Playboy interview. The last essay explores his fascination with the city of Valencia, as it was in 1969. That was fun, but overall I would not recommend this book. It's not a keeper for me. Unfortunately, I had pasted an old bookplate proudly bearing my name into the front a couple of decades or so ago, so shoppers at the thrift shop my trace it back to me!

[Mary Stanton]

Oh, my. I picked this up in a used bookstore in Stratford, Canada, on my way to see a great production of the TEMPEST. Tynan was a theater critic, writer/producer of OH! CALCUTTA and a Very Bad Boy. This personal reminiscence is off putting, but a fascinating look at the UK and the US movie/theater worlds in the 50's and 60's.