cover image Collision: When Reality and Illusion Collide

Collision: When Reality and Illusion Collide

Ron Bruguiere. AuthorHouse (www.authorhouse.com), $15.99 trade paper (280p) ISBN 978-1-4567-2525-9

A 40-year career in theater management is drawn in this show business memoir that provides an insider's view of the industry and its history. Bruguiere covers a variety of topics, including theater innovations (the advent of air conditioning), musings about the cost of maintaining proper facilities, and meditations on the production of inferior plays: "It starts with the producer, and what his goals are. Yet, the mysteries of the %E2%80%98why's' and the %E2%80%98how's' will always exist because every producer believes he has a winner." The book's scope is broad and celebrities abound. The idiosyncrasies of such stars as Carol Channing, Maggie Smith, Ethel Merman, and many others are intriguingly and kindly related. And it appears Bruguiere%E2%80%94whose experiences include theater tours and television productions%E2%80%94knew absolutely everyone in the business. Despite his success, Bruguiere often found himself at the mercy of early closings and unexpectedly short runs. He also recounts discreet details of failed love affairs, family relationships, and skirmishes with alcohol and drugs.