Early Cambridge theatres : college, university, and town stages, 1464-1720 /

In this brimming booklet, the editor of the two volumes of the Records of Early English Drama dedicated to Cambridge (1989) makes excellent use of that earlier corpus of research by successfully coupling it to a medieval manual of practical carpentry. The result reveals much of importance, albeit largely theoretical, about the construction of early English stage platforms and theaters. Nelson has recycled some illustrations from REED and added others, based largely on his own computer-aided-design interpretations. Unfortunately, his graphic choices omit numerous Cambridge venues. Two mildly annoying features mar an otherwise fine book. First, in the manner of numerous recent introductory theater texts, Nelson opens each section with a present tense "you are there" narrative that clashes with the more typical historiographic style of the rest of the contents. Secondly, extremely technical compilations of detailed measurements intermingle with more accessible discussions, making both less palatable. This mainly masterful expansion of the REED editorial apparatus offers the history of both early-modern theater architecture and performance. Graduate students; researchers; faculty. T. A. Pallen; Austin Peay State University