Jacques Copeau's Friends and Disciples ― The Theatre Du Vieux-Colombier in New York City, 1917-1919

Despite war, the possibility of financial disaster and the fact his actors spoke only French onstage, Copeau managed to do quite well, keeping the doors open for two theater seasons. He experimented with the bare raised platform, the unit set, and other forms of stage visuals, taking his enterprise to the forefront of the new. However, Copeau relied more on the generosity of his patrons and support of his friends than he did on his genius to keep the troupe on the boards and fed. Donahue (French, St. Joseph's U.) does an admirable job of explaining how Copeau did business and made magic, and clearly describes the world of early twentieth century art theater, which was rife with angels funding theaters and devils running them. Donahue keeps the saints and the sinners straight as he describes how this network of good and bad kept Copeau afloat as he developed his dreams. Annotation c2008 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)