A timeless collection of essays about the theatre  by the celebrated biographer and drama critic at  The New Yorker. Theatre criticism,  writes John Lahr in his introduction to  Light Fantastic,should conjure "the  life of the theatre as well as the life of the  play. We are in danger of losing our theatre  culture; and these essays are my little rear-guard action  to keep the public gaze focused on the lively  language and maverick thoughts of  theatricals--performers, playwrights, directors, designers--who are  the abstracts and brief chronicles of the time.'  " Most of the essays to be found in  this, Lahr's first collection, come from  The New Yorker,where Lahr has been drama  critic since 1992. Here, the reader will find  over forty pieces that represent Lahr's remarkable  knowledge of theatrical and cultural history, his  astute observations about comics (Roseanne Barr,  Peter Cook, Bill Hicks), playwrights (Oscar Wilde,  Tennessee Williams, Tony Kushner, Arthur Miller,  Neil Simon, Tom Stoppard), composers (Stephen  Sondheim, George and Ira Gershwin, Julie Styne), and  directors (George C. Wolfe, Ingmar Bergman, Peter  Brook). Most particularly, however, these  wide-ranging essays showcase Lahr's unique insight into human  nature that has made him an acclaimed, bestselling  biographer on both sides of the Atlantic.