Theatre Design & Technology - Fall 1996 - 66

The ABC of Stage Technology
by Francis Reid
Heineman, Portsmouth, NH 1995, ISBN: 0-435-08684-7, I: 108 pp. 32
b & wphotographs. 46 b & willustrations, paper back, List price:
$14.95

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Francis Reid has produced a nice handbook of
British technical theatre terms which will be
helpful to the beginning theatre stlldenl. Approximately six hundred eighty basic terms are
defined and approximately one hundred of
those are illustrated by photographs, line
drawings or reprints of interesting historic illustrations. Willie all of that is heartily commendable, it hardly qualifies the book as an
lIillustrated reference \vork [\vh.ich] is an encyclopedia of stage technology ternlS, as described on the back cover. In fact, tllis book is

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more clearly reflected in the "ABC" of its title

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level of an encyclopedic reference work. On the other hand the format of
4_" x 8_" makes it too large to be the convellient pocket handbook that
it could be. (Are British pockets that much larger than ours?)
Some American readers may find the British 1erminology of linlited
help in the United States while others may well conclude that learning the
British argot for the American jargon is the most valuable contribution
the book makes. Those of us in the second group wish that Mr. Reid had
been more inclusive in llis survey of stage slang so' that we could be even
better informed by his work.
Despite its limitations, this slim volume is still a worthwhile addition
to the stage technician's library because of what it does include. Finally,
tlle low purchase price of $14.95 is quite reasonable and probably a bargain for some neophyte tlleatre students and readers.
Re\~ewed by Elbin Cleveland
Professor of Theatre Design,
University of South Carolina, Columbia

since it is a mere introduction to the full "alphabet" of theatrical technology terms.
Perhaps the dichotomy of these two descriptors provides an insight into the central problem of the book: there
seems to be no clear editorial decision as to its purpose or niche in the
theatrical library. The terms are generally succinctly and clearly defined
and most of the illustrations are both interesting and informative. However, there simply aren't enough of eitller to elevate tllis handbook to the

usitt

B OOI{S

for review
as of September, 17 1996

Civil War Gentlemen: 1860s Apparel Arts & UniforJlls
by R.L. Shep, 1994
Create YOUI' Own Stage Costumes
by Jacquie Govier, Heinemann, 1996

is accepting nominations for

Dressfor the Photographer: Ordinal)' Americans and Fashion,
1840..1900
by Joan Severa, Kent State niversit)' Press, 1995.

The Clear-Com Award will be made to recognize an
individual who demonstrates excellence or outstanding potential in the area of sound in the performing
arts, while pursuing an undergraduate degree at an
accredited institution of higher education in the
United States or Canada.

Nominations from current members of USITT will be
accepted until January 15, 1997.

The award is made possible by a generous gifts to

European Post-Baroque Neoclassical Theater Architecture
by Briant l-!anlOr Lee, Studies in Theater Arts, Vol. 3, The Edwin
Press, 1996
Fearless Creating
by Eric Maisel, Plill., G.P. Putnam's Sons, 1995.
Tbe Guide to Historic Costlillie
by Karen Baclawski, Drama Book Publishers, 1995.
Opera Houses oftbe World
by Thierry Beauvert, The Vendome Press, 1996

THE NEW CENTURY fUND
by Bob Cohen, President of Clear-Com Intercom Systems
and a long-time Sustaining member of USITT.

Contact the USITT National Office for details about the
nomination process.
800-93USITT or 315-463-6463
fax: 315-463-6525
email: usittno@pppmail.nyser.net

ALL

TD&T

Stage Costlillie Step by Step
by MalY T. Kidd, Betterway Books, 1996
Tbe Staging Handbook
by FnUlsis Reid, Heinemann, Second Edition 1995
Tbeater & Fasbioll: Oscar Wi/de to tbe Suffragettes
by Joel Kaplan and Shelia Stowell, Cambridge University Press,
1995

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Theatre Design & Technology - Fall 1996