At 33

Synopsis

At 33 is the first of two autobiographies by Eva Le Gallienne, one of the 20th century’s most prolifically accomplished theatre artists. From her charmed childhood in England, Paris, and Copenhagen, to her smash debut on the London stage at age 16, Le Gallienne weaves the tale of her adventurous early life with humor, wit, and insight. She reveals the incentive behind her risky decision to move from London to New York, the tribulations of her struggle to find rewarding and remunerative acting work, and the satisfaction of her ultimate triumph in the “Battle of Broadway,” where she became a shining star at age 21. Mentored by such legendary actors as Sarah Bernhardt, Constance Collier, Ethel Barrymore, and Eleonora Duse, Le Gallienne elucidates her passion for the craft of acting and her belief in the importance of theatre as not only a form of entertainment, but a cultural necessity. Inspired by her passionate affection for the repertory theatres of Europe and her belief that theatre should be accessible to people at all levels of society, Le Gallienne left Broadway behind in 1926 to establish the Civic Repertory Theatre on Fourteenth Street. The tale of how she founded and operated the company as producer, director, and lead actor occupies the latter part of the book, taking readers on a roller coaster ride through the victories, disasters, and everyday challenges that characterized her seven years as a pioneer of what would later become known as “Off Broadway.” Le Gallienne concludes with a vision for the future of American theatre that continues to inspire artists and enthusiasts nearly a century after her book was first published.