John Lahr

John Lahr
John Henry Lahris a British-based American theater critic, and the son of actor Bert Lahr. Since 1992, he has been the senior drama critic at The New Yorker magazine. His books include Joy Rideand Tennessee Williams: Mad Pilgrimage of the Flesh...
theatre arses
The only thing I get from the theatre is a sore arse.
entertainment
Entertainment is not politically neutral.
suffering refusal species
Frivolity is the species' refusal to suffer.
eggs long
His life was one long extravaganza, like living inside a Faberge egg.
dirty squares care
The pigeons are shitting on George M. Cohan. I shoo them off. They fly up and perch on his hat. Cohan would've never given his regards to Broadway if he saw how dirty they kept his statue in Duffy Square. New Yorkers walk right by. Nobody cares.
book taken hands
Most of the people dishing out judgment have no working experience of the theatre, have not written a professional play, a sketch, or even a joke; have never worked in a theatre, taken an acting class, or published any extended piece of work. They are creative virgins; everything they know about theatre is book-learned and second-hand.
night theatre firsts
The history of theatre is the history of first nights.
fun father emotional
First and foremost, I'd say my father, Bert Lahr ... gave me a love of theatre--its kinetic and emotional potential and its raffish backstage fun--and also set an artistic example of the importance of corrupting an audience with pleasure.