Great Moments in the Theatre

"A lively book... a convincing argument for the importance of a long life in theater criticism....In capturing the thrill of seeing a theatrical event, Mr. Nightingale writes like someone who doesnt just have a responsibility to his readers but also (in an unconventional way) to history." -- New York Times "Benedict Nightingale's characteristically witty, insightful and enthusiastic reports make you wish you'd been sitting next to him during his greatest moments in the theatre." -- Ian McKellen "A magnificently readable tour of theatrical history conducted by our best-informed living critic." -- Michael Billington, Guardian "I've known Benedict Nightingale for more than fifty years over which time he has become one of the Theatre's most distinguished and influential commentators. He writes with style, perspective and wit, and with a deep knowledge of his subject. In turn he is greatly admired by the theatre profession and, as importantly, by his readers and the audiences who trust the fairness of his opinions." --Sir Peter Hall "Gloriously readable and vivid... painstakingly researched... It is the perfect stocking filler for all drama buffs." Stage "Nightingale is erudite, affable and has a deep knowledge and love of his subject. That becomes apparent early on in this delightful collection of essays always smooth and readable, it is great to have the chance to share the enjoyment of a man who knows so much about theatre should be on the reading and gift lists of everybody with any kind of love for the stage." British Theatre Guide "A lively book... a convincing argument for the importance of a long life in theater criticism....In capturing the thrill of seeing a theatrical event, Mr. Nightingale writes like someone who doesnt just have a responsibility to his readers but also (in an unconventional way) to history." -- New York Times "Benedict Nightingale's characteristically witty, insightful and enthusiastic reports make you wish you'd been sitting next to him during his greatest moments in the theatre." -- Ian McKellen "A magnificently readable tour of theatrical history conducted by our best-informed living critic." -- Michael Billington, Guardian "I've known Benedict Nightingale for more than fifty years over which time he has become one of the Theatre's most distinguished and influential commentators. He writes with style, perspective and wit, and with a deep knowledge of his subject. In turn he is greatly admired by the theatre profession and, as importantly, by his readers and the audiences who trust the fairness of his opinions." --Sir Peter Hall "Gloriously readable and vivid... painstakingly researched... It is the perfect stocking filler for all drama buffs." – Stage "Nightingale is erudite, affable and has a deep knowledge and love of his subject. That becomes apparent early on in this delightful collection of essays always smooth and readable, it is great to have the chance to share the enjoyment of a man who knows so much about theatre should be on the reading and gift lists of everybody with any kind of love for the stage." – British Theatre Guide

Benedict Nightingale was the Guardians northern theatre critic, the New Statesmans theatre critic, the New York Times Sunday theatre critic and, from 1990 to 2010, the London Times chief theatre critic during a period widely acknowledged to be as productive and exciting as any in theatrical history.

HAMLET ADELPHI THEATRE, LONDON, JUNE 10 1899 61 PETER PAN DUKE OF YORK'S THEATRE, LONDON, DECEMBER 27 1904 63 THE PLAYBOY OF THE WESTERN WORLD ABBEY THEATRE, DUBLIN, JANUARY 28 1907 65 JUSTICE DUKE OF YORK'S THEATRE, LONDON, FEBRUARY 21 1910 67 PYGMALION HIS MAJESTY'S THEATRE, LONDON, APRIL 11 1914 69 LA RONDE DEUTSCHE VOLKSTHEATER, VIENNA, FEBRUARY 1 1921 71 THE PLOUGH AND THE STARS ABBEY THEATRE, DUBLIN, FEBRUARY 10 1926 74 THE WHITE GUARD MOSCOW ART THEATRE, OCTOBER 5 1926 77 JOURNEY'S END APOLLO THEATRE, LONDON, DECEMBER 9 1928 80 PRIVATE LIVES PHOENIX THEATRE, LONDON, SEPTEMBER 24 1930 82 BLOOD WEDDING TEATRO BEATRIZ, MADRID, MARCH 8 1933 84 WAITING FOR LEFTY CIVIC REPERTORY THEATRE, NEW YORK, JANUARY 6 1935 86 MURDER IN THE CATHEDRAL CANTERBURY CATHEDRAL, JUNE 15 1935 88 OKLAHOMA! ST JAMES THEATER, NEW YORK, MARCH 31 1943 91 THE GLASS MENAGERIE CIVIC THEATRE, CHICAGO, DECEMBER 26 1944 94 MOTHER COURAGE DEUTSCHES THEATRE, BERLIN, JANUARY 11 1949 96 THE DEEP BLUE SEA DUCHESS THEATRE, LONDON, MARCH 6 1952 98 THE CRUCIBLE MARTIN BECK THEATRE, NEW YORK, JANUARY 22 1953 101 WAITING FOR GODOT ARTS THEATRE, LONDON, AUGUST 3 1955 103 LOOK BACK IN ANGER ROYAL COURT, LONDON, MAY 8 1956 105 THE QUARE FELLOW THEATRE ROYAL STRATFORD EAST, LONDON, MAY 24 1956 108 LONG DAY'S JOURNEY INTO NIGHT HELEN HAYES THEATRE, NEW YORK, NOVEMBER 7 1956 110 THE BIRTHDAY PARTY LYRIC HAMMERSMITH, LONDON, MAY 19 1958 113 A RAISIN IN THE SUN ETHEL BARRYMORE THEATRE, NEW YORK, MARCH 11 1959 115 BEYOND THE FRINGE FORTUNE THEATRE, LONDON, MAY 10 1961 118 KING LEAR ROYAL SHAKESPEARE THEATRE, STRATFORD, NOVEMBER 6 1962 120 OTHELLO OLD VIC, LONDON, APRIL 21 1964 122 THE HOMECOMING NEW THEATRE, CARDIFF, MARCH 26 1965 124 TWANG!! PALACE THEATRE, MANCHESTER, NOVEMBER 3 1965 126 SAVED ROYAL COURT, LONDON, NOVEMBER 3 1965 128 LOOT COCHRANE THEATRE, LONDON, SEPTEMBER 27 1966 130 ROSENCRANTZ AND GUILDENSTERN ARE DEAD OLD VIC, LONDON, APRIL 11 1967 133 A DAY IN THE DEATH OF JOE EGG CITIZENS THEATRE, GLASGOW, MAY 9 1967 136 THE LAWRENCE TRILOGY ROYAL COURT, LONDON, MARCH 14 1968 139 HAIR SHAFTESBURY THEATRE, LONDON, SEPTEMBER 27 1968 142 PARADISE NOW ROUNDHOUSE , LONDON, JUNE 6 1969 144 THE CONTRACTOR ROYAL COURT, LONDON, OCTOBER 20 1969 147 OH! CALCUTTA! ROUNDHOUSE, LONDON, JULY 27 1970 149 A MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM ROYAL SHAKESPEARE THEATRE, STRATFORD, AUGUST 27 1970 151 ABSURD PERSON SINGULAR CRITERION THEATRE, LONDON, JULY 6 1972 153 JOSEPH AND THE AMAZING TECHNICOLOUR DREAMCOAT ASSEMBLY HALL, EDINBURGH, AUGUST 25 1972 155 NOT I ROYAL COURT, LONDON, JANUARY 18 1973 158 THE MISANTHROPE OLD VIC, LONDON, FEBRUARY 22 1973 160 SIZWE BANSI IS DEAD ST STEPHEN'S HALL, NEW BRIGHTON, SEPTEMBER 1974 162 COMEDIANS NOTTINGHAM PLAYHOUSE, FEBRUARY 20 1975 165 NO MAN'S LAND OLD VIC, LONDON, APRIL 23 1975 167 MACBETH OTHER PLACE, STRATFORD, SEPTEMBER 9 1976 169 THE PASSION COTTESLOE, NATIONAL THEATRE, LONDON, APRIL 19 1977 171 PLENTY LYTTELTON, NATIONAL THEATRE, LONDON, APRIL 7 1978 173 SWEENEY TODD URIS THEATRE, NEW YORK, MARCH 1 1979 175 NICHOLAS NICKLEBY ALDWYCH THEATRE, LONDON, JUNE 21 1980 177 MACBETH OLD VIC, LONDON, SEPTEMBER 4 1980 179 THE ROMANS IN BRITAIN OLIVIER, NATIONAL THEATRE, LONDON, OCTOBER 16 1980 181 QUARTERMAINE'S TERMS QUEEN'S THEATRE, LONDON, JULY 30 1981 183 GOOD DONMAR WAREHOUSE, LONDON, SEPTEMBER 2 1981 186 NOISES OFF LYRIC HAMMERSMITH, LONDON, FEBRUARY 23 1982 188 TOP GIRLS ROYAL COURT, LONDON, AUGUST 28 1982 190 FOOL FOR LOVE CIRCLE REPERTORY THEATRE, NEW YORK, MAY 23 1983 192 GLENGARRY GLEN ROSS COTTESLOE, NATIONAL THEATRE, LONDON, SEPTEMBER 21 1983 194 DEATH OF A SALESMAN BROADHURST THEATRE, NEW YORK, MARCH 31 1984 196 LES MISERABLES BARBICAN THEATRE, LONDON, OCTOBER 8 1985 198 ENTERTAINING STRANGERS ST MARY'S CHURCH, DORCHESTER, NOVEMBER 18 1985 200 DANCING AT LUGHNASA LYTTELTON, NATIONAL THEATRE, LONDON, OCTOBER 15 1990 202 DEATH AND THE MAIDEN ROYAL COURT, THEATRE UPSTAIRS, LONDON, JULY 4 1991 20