| The "Lord of the Rings" Official Stage Companion: Staging the Greatest Show on Middle-Earth | 
 enlarge | Author: Gary Russell
Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers Ltd
Category: Book
Buy New: £47.99
New (1) Used (1) from £47.99
Avg. Customer Rating:  2 reviews
Sales Rank: 194953
Media: Hardcover
Pages: 160
Shipping Weight (lbs): 1.5
Dimensions (in): 9.8 x 7.5 x 0.7
ISBN: 0007219083
EAN: 9780007219087
ASIN: 0007219083
Publication Date: June 4, 2007
Availability: Usually dispatched within 1-2 business days
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| Customer Reviews:
"Lothlorien is no more but her beauty is here reborn, you have used my gift well Samwise Gamgee..." August 8, 2008
I read this book before I saw the production (it arrived the morning before we left to see it), it covered every detail of the cast and crews journey which should prove to others that this interpretation was not just a money making venture but a sincere attempt to bring Tolkens world to the theatre. They succeeded since this production did push the ideas of storytelling to a place which was fantastically captivating. From each page thoughtfully chosen photos bring to life the memory of the Toronto and London productions. The costumes are fabulous to look on in more detail and the evolution of the ingenious stage design is just as interesting to read about as it was to see. The book largely focuses on the London cast and the brave steps they each took in bring their characters to life ... if you were an Elf; you needed a head for heights and if you were a Hobbit a competent level of physical dexterity was needed, especially if you had to clime over members of the audience or if you happened to be a leaping Orc ... all of this is covered in the book, all the ideas reveal a level of originality which hasn't been seen in the West End for some time and perhaps not achieved as well. For all of the shows apparent growing success, it's early closure seems surprisingly unfair, for it is to be replaced by Andrew Lloyd Webbers new Oliver production-(Mr Webber wanted that theatre badly it seems); for myself the West End continues to be a place battling with artistic freedoms and business sense usurping them all too often but every once in awhile something unexpected arrives which takes your breath away and this book goes someway in preserving that first experience we had. A great book ... maybe Wallace productions will issue a dvd which utilises many of the videos which appeared on the web site ... I am sure there must be more production footage which still remains unseen?!
"Lothlorien is no more but her beauty is here reborn, you have used my gift well Samwise Gamgee...Frodo Baggins, jewel among Hobbits, if your hurts grieve you still and the memory or your burden is heavy come with us ... all your wounds and weariness will be healed ..."
Great insight into a great show! February 7, 2008
3 out of 3 found this review helpful
This is a great book even though lots of the photos are from the Toronto production (due to the date of publication). However, it tells the story of the making of the London show and how the idea for turning this epic story into a musical came about. Well worth buying whether you have seen the show or not. If you haven't seen it, as soon as you've read this book you'll want to come this show in London.
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