The play Alice in Wonderland, created by the MaNhattan Project, relays a truth that is paralleled only by the original story by Lewis Carroll. It reflects a beauty only only otherwise achieved in the dreams of a sleeping child. It goes far beyond boundaries and rules set for playwrighting, and creates the magic the mind's eye has only seen before, and puts it on stage.

This is a refreshing way to spend your time listening to some of the best interviews from the show. I like the show but sometimes don't have time to catch it on NPR. This audio set gives me lots of the memorable interviews I've heard or partially heard over the years. It's a great collection of some of the folks who are major influences in their work. The inquisitive and probing questions of Terry Gross really open up conversations with the likes of Tracy Ullman and Dennis Franz, they sound like us. These are wonderful snippets of real life.

Having been a very young part of Andre Eglevskys' world (my mother, and I when I was old enough, took class daily with his teacher Maria Nevelska..."spelled "Nevelskaya" before coming to America) at Carnegie hall where he came frequently for class. This book brings back with clarity the attitudes, the "Feel" of the times, the dedication and love for the art of ballet, not only in the person of Nicolas Legat but of every person lovingly and sometimes humorously described. The sketches and caricatures are priceless...and so accurate! The classes described at the end are very helpful esp. to a teacher, advanced student, or ballet historian. The section on "the secret of the pirouette"you will want to try, it was the way I was taught and it works perfectly, and the section on Class Music is very in-depth and wonderful. Artistry at this level needs to once again be our dedication to the many facets of ballet...not just performance, but a life! Worth every penny!

I felt disappointed reading this book.... The ideas of the author are not fresh and his interpretation of Grotowski is, at best, misguided.

After a long hiatus from performing, reading this book excited me to absolutely no end! Stephen's thoughts and wise teachings brought me back to a place that I'd forgotten and was sorely missing. Thank you for the palpable tenderness and care that LEAPS off the page directly into my world and " where I live " Reading about acting can be confusing, right? This book magically trancends anything stodgy, incoherent, or inconsistent in structure and message. ( SO MANY acting and performance manuals DO NOT EVER get past the lumpy and condescending realm...) THIS is elegantly crafted and now sacred to me! Thank you Stephen.

Stephen Wangh, a former student of Grotowski and now a teacher of Experimental theater shares his knowledge in this inspiring and well written book. First of all, I want to say that you really need to have a teacher and be in a group to learn Grotowski's physical acting better. Grotowksi's work can also be very challenging and confussing at times and this book really helps guide you through it. The book follows a group of Stephen Wangh's first students through his training. That is what makes the book better then your average acting text book. You take a journey along with these people while learning the Grotowski method. As an actor I could relate to the actors frustrations and fears and in the book we see them overcome them. The book explains everything from what clothes to wear to voice work. I am glad Wangh added a section at the end of the book about how to deal with and survive acting. Very few people talk about this subject and it needs to be brought up more. I read this book before I was about to start working on a play and it re-inspired me and made me more discplined and focused. Stephen Wang also isn't self centered and basically says that do what you have to do to do the role you're playing good but try this method. The book is very well-thought out and easy to understand. Any actor should read this even if they think they know the Grotowski method.

I once read the thing that makes a movie great is when your done watching it, you'd like to meet the characters in the movie in real life. Louis Malle's "My Dinner With Andre" is one of those types of movies. "My Dinner With Andre" is filled with philosophical ideas and theories. We ourselves would like to have a conversation like this with a friend or a boyfriend\girlfriend, husband or wife. Infact as we watch the film we wish we could somehow join the conversation in the movie and offer our own ideas!

For some odd reason I've never really paid attention to the films of Louis Malle. I've seen some of course, but, he never really striked me as one of the greats. Well recently I find I've been caught in his film world. I'm very eager to watch some of his films over again, and some for the first time. I feel his sensibilities as a filmmaker match my own. I don't know if that makes any sense. What I mean to say is, what he finds to be sympathetic and interesting I do too.

Many people before watching this film always seem to find it odd how the film's plot can be enjoyable. For those who don't know, the story is merely about two friends meeting having dinner. They talk about their work (They both work in the theathre), about their families, religion, and just in general, life. What people should and shouldn't do. "My Dinner With Andre" is so fascinating that at times we just my forget the the movie only revolves around two characters. That we are actually just watching a movie about a conversation. Which I admit on the surface does seem boring. But, after you've seen this movie you'll be very impressed.

My only complaint with this movie is the first 40 minutes of conversation between Andre Gregory and Wallace Shawn. Only because what Gregory is talking about doesn't seem to connect with the audience. He's talking about his soul-searching days travellling to foreign countries. This is not a theme everyone who watches the movie can relate to. Or maybe it was just me. It's after all of this that the two start to discuss the more universal issues that we can relate to; work, family, trying to find happiness...ect. But still in all, "My Dinner With Andre" is a movie I would recommend everyone make an attempt to see. It will turn out to be a rewarding experience.

Bottom-line: Probably the most accessible film by filmmaker Louis Malle. A rare movie experience that rewards us in ways we may not have thought possible. A modern classic.

I don't know about the quality of the picture on the DVD, but I would rather stare at snow and just listen to Andre Gregory and Wallace Shawn talk than never experience this movie.
Someone else said that Gregory was a narcisitic bore, but the movie is about his experiences over a couple of years. Kind of hard to do without mentioning himself.
The conversation is awesome, and the ideas therein are probably not too unfamiliar to anyone nowadays who might watch it, but it is still incredible to hear them articulated so well.
I recommend reading the screenplay too, as there are a couple of Andres stories that got left out of the final cut of the movie. Although they don't change the basic message of the movie, they are interesting, especially if you can find the book used.
All in all, this is one of the greatest movies I have ever seen, and would recommend it to anyone who has ever wondered if our society has gone a little nutty.

First saw this movie when it came out. Went to see it with a group of friends. After the movie we went to an all night coffee shop and talked about the film and how it related to our lives until the sun came up. This film made me laugh, contemplate life then cry at the end when Andre talks about how one day his son was just a little boy and before he knew it, he saw his grown adult son standing before him and he wonders, where did that young child go? Where did that time go?

This film is not for everyone. Have watched this film with people who wondered when the two characters were going to finish dinner, and when would the action pick up? Other people were left in the dark because they had never read "The Little Prince" and had no idea what Andre was talking about when he referred to the book. However, if you are someone who questions life and looks to find meaning or purpose in your life, you will be pleasantly surprised. At the end of the movie, I always need to talk with friends and loved ones about the issues that are always raised watching this film. For me, this is a film I have watched yearly (usually more) because it allows me to concentrate on what really is and is not important in life. This movie always puts life and all the "things" that happen in my life back, into perspective.

Although Andre's adventures seem rather abstract at times, he eventually brings the conversation to a point where Wallace Shaw can understand what he is saying because he starts using examples and situations in every day life. He explains that you don't have to go to Tibet to meditate or be buried alived for the night in Poland to truly experience life and what it is all about.

This is, by far, my favorite film and will always be my favorite film. Watching this movie is a gift I give to myself.