Act One: An Autobiography

New York DJ Johnathan Schwartz used to read a heartbreaking Christmas story from Act One and, years later, I tracked down the book. This is the autobiography of playwright Moss Hart and tells his story of growing up desperately poor in the Bronx of the 1910s, dazzled by the lights of Broadway. It follows his early efforts to enter the theater and ends with the production of his first hit, the play Once in a Lifetime.The first 2/3s are an excellent portrait of life in New York in early days of the 20th century. Early on we get the story I remembered, a Christmas Eve trip to the pushcarts where his father checked the prices at each one until they reach the end unable to find anything he could afford as a gift. Hart's account of simultaneously feeling disappointed but also closer than ever to his father is just heartbreaking.Later stories detail the now-lost tradition of adult summer camps in the mountains as an escape from the oppressive, pre-air conditioning, heat of the city. We also learn about his early days as an office boy to a producer and desperate quests to make ends meet. Throughout the book are peeks at the culture of Broadway, the Algonquin Roundtable, and larger-than-life stars and producers. As a New Yorker I feel a bond of brotherhood when, after his show is a hit, he vows never to take the subway again and leaves his Brooklyn apartment with a triumphant bit of vandalism.But still the last portion of the book bogs down with a prolonged account of writing, rewriting and revising Once in a Lifetime with his collaborator George Kaufman. While hearing the ins and outs of the creative process can be interesting it's just not very well told. He mentions changing scenes and dialogue but offers few concrete examples of what the changes are so if you're not familiar with the play (I am not) it becomes repetitive.And of course it's hard to say how accurate the book actually is. Wikipedia helpfully points out that Hart gives his aunt a happier ending than real life ever did, and certainly we must assume that some incidents and dialogue were consolidated or punched up for the readers.But the book is certainly a great window into the New York, and especially the Broadway of a century ago and if you have an interest in that subject you'll find a lot to enjoy.

When we talk about theater books, there is Moss Hart's Act One and then there are all the other books. Hart's memoirs about his early days as a struggling playwright absolutely bursts with humor, energy, sharply drawn anecdotes and human portraits. Hart was a talented writer and can make chapters about being the social director of summer camps at the Catskills sound way more interesting than it probably was. This is a wonderful memoir.Moss Hart was the son of a rather impoverished cigar-maker and lived in a poor neighborhood in the Bronx. As a child he had an eccentric Aunt Kate who instilled in the boy a love of theater. But Hart sounds like he was meant for theater anyway, for as he observes, "Theater is the inevitable refuge of the unhappy child." He describes his journey from a joyless childhood to a shiftless adulthood as a social director of summer camps until he meets playwright and director George Kaufman. Hart describes their difficult first collaboration together (a satire of Hollywood called "Once in a Lifetime"), and the book ends with Hart and Kaufman's play's triumphant opening night on Broadway. Afterwards Hart goes home to his family, tells them to gather their few possessions and leave their old apartment forever. They are no longer in poverty anymore.When George Kaufman first read Act One he said wryly, "Act One is fiction." And indeed one does suspect that quite a few facts go by the wayside and that Hart takes some creative license in telling his own story. But the core of Act One has a deep emotional truth. I don't know of another playwright who wrote with such honesty about his own insecurities and failings and describes the often excruciating "creative process" with such detail. This humility and genuine love for the the theater is what makes Act One such a page-turner so many years later.One huge moment in Act One is after the premiere of "Once in a Lifetime" George Kaufman goes before the audience and says "80% of this play is Moss Hart." In Act One I think 80% of the book might be fact, the other 20% fiction, but it's still a damned great book. If you love theater this book is the place to start.

This has to be among the best books about a life in the theatre - from early infatuation through to hard won success,driven by a desire to live a dream and escape youthful poverty in the process. Not only was the author a noted author but also a successful director of stage productions, including the famous "My Fair Lady". It is so sad to recall hispremature sudden death from heart failure in his late fifties.

Classic. He seems to have forgotten that he was less than a not quite closet bisexual - but hey, memory plays tricks. But it is classic. Not exactly challenging but good fun.

Excellent

all fine thanx

This book was a re-read for me as I remember reading it back in the late 50's/early 60's. I loved it and was able to read it after reading the book, "KITTY", written by the wife of Moss Hart. A great duo for those who love the American Theatre!