Before he was a globally celebrated humorist, Jerome K. Jerome was a terribly broke, remarkably optimistic, and profoundly untalented traveling actor.
In On the Stage and Off, Jerome pulls back the velvet curtain of the late-Victorian theatrical circuit to deliver a brilliantly witty, semi-autobiographical expose of life upon the boards. Written with the same effortless charm and dry irony that made Three Men in a Boat an international sensation, this book tracks the misadventures of a young man determined to make it in showbiz, despite having absolutely no qualifications for the job.
From the sheer terror of disastrous opening nights and chaotic rehearsals with eccentric stage managers, to the unglamorous reality of cheap, drafty lodgings and audiences that are less than enthusiastic, Jerome paints a wonderfully vivid picture of the 19th-century entertainment industry. It is a world populated by theatrical divas, bumbling stagehands, and a never-ending cycle of hope and humiliation.
Chapters include:
- I Determine to Become and Actor,
- I Become and Actor,
- Through the Stage Door,
- Behind the Scenes,
- A Rehearsal,
- Scenery and Supers,
- Dressing,
- My First Deboo,
- Birds of Prey,
- etcetera.
Whether you are a theater enthusiast fascinated by the history of the stage or simply a fan of classic British comedy,On the Stage and Off is a delightful, laugh-out-loud treasure.