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Act One
- An Autobiography
- Narrated by: Jim Meskimen
- Length: 17 hrs and 47 mins
- Unabridged Audiobook
- Categories: Arts & Entertainment, Entertainment & Performing Arts
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Publisher's Summary
Moss Hart's Act One, which Lincoln Center Theater presented in 2014 as a play written and directed by James Lapine, is one of the greatest American memoirs - a glorious memorial to a bygone age filled with all the wonder, drama, and heartbreak that surrounded Broadway in the early 20th century. Hart's story inspired a generation of theatergoers, dramatists, and readers everywhere as he eloquently chronicled his impoverished childhood and his long, determined struggle to reach the opening night of his first Broadway hit. Act One is the quintessential American success story.
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What listeners say about Act One
Average Customer RatingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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- c
- 07-08-17
Good but not great
Would you recommend this book to a friend? Why or why not?
Yes, especially if you like theater. The story, about the early days of Broadway, is fascinating and Hart finds himself in all sorts of interesting situations.
What other book might you compare Act One to and why?
A little bit to Neil Simon's memoirs, especially in showing how playwriting actually happens.
What didn’t you like about Jim Meskimen’s performance?
He was way too slow a reader, pauses too long. I had to listen to it at 1.5 speed and it still sounded normal.
2 people found this helpful
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- Barry
- 06-15-21
The greatest theater memoir ever
Brilliantly written, the autobiography of a theater legend is both an enthralling story of being poor in New York in the 1920s and finding success beyond comprehension in the theater.
The eloquence of the writing is done on her by the talented production and superb near raider.
1 person found this helpful
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- Lynn
- 07-04-20
A permanent favorite !
There are few books I consider favorites this will be one of them. Great telling of an incredible career from the ambitious beginning to first success. I felt like it was someone recounting events to me personally in a most sincere and inspiring dialogue. You could feel the joy with Moss Hart’s first success and understand what to took to achieve it.
This was a book club selection, wise domination. Five stars are not enough.
1 person found this helpful
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- Ellen Ruffin
- 05-15-20
Are you a theatre person?
If you are, then this is the book for you. If you're NOT a theatre person but love an amazing tale about a climb out of poverty, this is the book for you, too.
I will admit I am old enough to remember many of the people mentioned in this book. It is a first hand account of a different time. I had read about this book, and I had heard people talk about it, but I had never read it, and Audible had it!
1 person found this helpful
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- Hayworth
- 09-07-19
A classic
One of the finest theatre autobiographies ever written. Beautifully read - with the exception of Bow Bells, which is pronounced Boe Bells, not Bough Bells. Don't producers ever check these things? Oh well. it's still a great book.
1 person found this helpful
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- Wondering
- 05-22-19
A great story of astruggling artist
For anyone who loves the theater, this is a moving story of the struggles and triumphs of a talented playwright. Told with humor and candor, I found it fascinating and touching.
1 person found this helpful
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- Just Curious
- 04-26-19
Pleasure Reading. Superb Narration!
The narration made this book far more interesting than it might have been otherwise. A real pleasure to listen to. Very interesting life story from a man with a beautiful mind who turned barriers into sailboats. This is about a time that otherwise would have been lost for many people to venture into. A time when people really had to hustle without the social nets we have in place today. When people were grateful for work and had to stretch themselves for simple opportunities. A different universe actually. Not a book you will forget you read. Add this to your good memories!
1 person found this helpful
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- Michael
- 08-22-18
Excellent book
Narrator was EXCELLENT. Most enjoyable autobiography. Now want to read a bio to get a realistic version of Moss Hart’s life.
1 person found this helpful
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- triathlondude
- 10-19-17
Phenomenal!
Astonishing story of how this poor boy becomes a major playwright. Those people who think being in the entertainment business is glamorous or easy would do well to read this anxiety ridden, sometimes heartbreaking, often harrowing but ultimately uplifting story. one of the best autobiographies I've ever listened to. The narrator was perfection.
1 person found this helpful
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- Jenny Jenkins
- 07-17-16
Great Reading of a Great Broadway Story
Jim Meskimen's reading was exceptional. I never wavered a moment from thinking this was Moss Hart telling his story of struggle, perseverance, bitterness, audacity, talent and luck as a young playwright. He captured all of Hart's nuances, sounded like a 20th century New Yorker in tone and attitude, and seemed entirely in sync with Moss Hart's perspective and view of the theater world of the 1920s-1930s.
Much is written about developing "grit" and "perseverance" in young people. This story -- of a young man forced to leave school after 8th grade, making the most of his opportunities, wrestling with his own doubts and fears, reckoning with the soul destroying aspects of poverty, dusting himself off after being knocked down in humiliating ways -- is an inspiring lesson. A bit dated in how PG it all seems -- but the reader has the sense that those more risqué aspects of that world are omitted rather than sugarcoated in this memoir written in the 1950s. And having background understanding of and interest in 20tj century Broadway theater are probably essential in appreciating this book. But Jim Meskimen must get full credit for making this take of another era feel so alive and immediate and the audio book feeling like Moss Hart is right there with you in 2016, telling you what happened in that Broadway producer's crowded gritty Times Square office.
1 person found this helpful
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- Cathy D
- 10-06-21
Class Act
if you are fascinated in life in the theatre, playwriting in 1920s New York, this audio gives a very good insight into how life was. Written as an autobiography we learn that Moss Hart's love of theatre was inspired by his whimsical and drama loving aunt. Born into poverty and a life of lavour, Aunt. Her influence made him dream of the glamour of the footlights.
Moss Hart's path to success involved working as social manager on New York State holiday camps, being an office boy and general goffer. His break came when one of his plays caught the attention of George Kauffman who helped him write his smash hit Days of Our Life. Although the language and prose is of its time and therefore beyond political correctness, this is a well written and entertaining expose of life on Broadway, from the perspective of as a wannabe playwright.