Theatre Design & Technology - Feb 1969 - 24

BOOK REVIEWS

_ * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *_·Thomas Watson

Books Received: (Persons wishing to review these or
other appropriate new book titles should contact Associate
Editor Thomas Watson, University Theatre, University of
Delaware, Newark, Delaware.l

Moore, Thomas G. The Economics of the American Theatre
McNamara, Brooks. The American Playhouse in the Eighteenth Century

STAGE COSTUME HANDBOOK, by Berneice Prisk. New
York: Harper and Row, 1966; pp. x + 198. $5.50 (text
edition).
Stage Costume Handbook provides answers to many questions raised by the amateur costumer, Solutions can be
found to such problem projects as the construction of animal costumes, the draping of a Greek himation or the
formidable task of costuming a period play for the first time.
This Handbook, unl ike many costume books available, deals
in a pragmatic way, with the process of costuming the amateur theatre production, Community theatre or aspiring university production, and in some lesser degree, might even
be helpful to the third grade Nativity play.
The Handbook is divided into two separate, though interrelated parts. Th e opening chapter consists of a brief survey
of historical costume. The text offers succinct descriptions
of several representative costumes, general background information about the period and clear, easily understood, line
drawings. This, of course, is not meant to be a definitive
history of costume, but is an introduction to period costume
and a point of reference for the study of "period" pattern
drafts, covered later in the book. The same textual and illustrative treatment is used to describe national and traditional (i,e. Circus and Commedia Dell' Arte) costumes in the
second chapter.
For those involved, or about to be involved, in the field of
costuming the second part of the book will be of primary
interest. Here the author presents in an effective and pertinent manner carefully prepared procedures for costuming a
play. Information about research, preparation of designs, cost
estimates and the purchasing of materials introduces the beginner to the business and crafts of stage costuming. In
subsequent chapters attention is drawn to methods of fabric
dyeing and decorating, the construction of masks, armour,
wigs and other practical skills with which the costumer must
be familiar, Also examined, is the often overlooked, costume
shop. In this chapter the author presents a guide for the
building and equipping of a costume workshop and storage
area,
Costume pattern drafting, regrettably one of the most neglected areas of stage costuming, is treated here in a clear,
comprehensive manner. This section takes the beginning costumer step by step through the process of drafting a basic
bodice, sleeve, skirt gore and trouser pattern. Once the system is mastered it is possible to choose an historic period,
locate, in the first part of the book, a drawing of a representative period costume and, finally, with the aid of Professor
Prisk's basic pattern method, draft and modify the resulting
pattern to the likeness of the period design. To further
clarify this process some thirty pages of "period" pattern
drafts are used for non-period costumes as well.

The appendix includes useful information on the organization
and duties of a costume crew, methods of draping period
garments and a directory of costume supply sources. A
helpful addition to the appendix would be a section on historically accurate period patterns, Here a comparison between
basic and period patterns could be made, thereby showing
the uses and benefits of each, The bibliography included is
quite an extensive one. A more limited, carefully selected
list of books would perhaps, be more in keeping with the
scope of a practical handbook.
As a reference book in a community theatre or a beginning
costume textbook, Stage Costume Handbook warrants inspection; it is a logical effort to bring the novice costumer
to grips with many of the problems that will confront him in
the course of costuming a play. This book, with its large
spiral bindi ngs, clear drawings and orderly format, establishes well organized procedures and shop-proven methods
for stage costuming.

Leon I. Brauner
University of California, Santa Barbara
THE FARTHER VISION: Educational Television Today. Allen
E. Koenig and Ruane B. Hill (eds.), The University of Wisconsin Press: Madison, 1967,371 pp,
Editors Koenig and Hill have compiled a thorough collection
of informative writings on the elusive subject of ETV. However informative, the reader may be disappointed to miss
the more provocative thoughts promised in the title. Seldom
visionary, many of its chapters result from observations made
through McLuhan's rear view mirror; the present and future
are interpreted in the traditional and limiting terms 01 the
past. Other contributors bypass the mirror and offer the
reader perceptive glimpses at what ought to be. In most instances, however, emphasis is lacking and the lay reader or
ETV traditionalist (who does exist even in so short a time)
will miss them,
The two chapters found in "Part I: Educational Television in
Perspective" offer the beginning student of ETV a fine
start. Editor Koenig concisely summarizes the history of
ETV. Although statements such as, "By 1950, educators
fully realized the potential of educational television" (p. 5),
is questionable assertion.
Maloney's analysis of the philosophy of ETV is a high point
in the book. Just criticism is made of the "hardware" and
"how-to-do-with its inherent characteristics, both technical
and psychological, in general and for education. As refreshing as this chapter is, however, it breaks down for a reason
typical of the remainder of the book, At no time is the essential distinction made between ETV and lTV (instructional
television). The result is frequent statement of sloppy "principles" and confusion between the very separate goals of
ETV and lTV.

[]ill[] THEATRE DESIGN AND TECHNOLOGY

FEBRUARY, 1969

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Theatre Design & Technology - Feb 1969