Colleen Dewhurst, the actress who made even the most banal scripts into masterpieces, died in August 1991, leaving the manuscript for her memoir only half completed. Thanks to her editor and her assistant, what grew out of the tragedy of losing Miss Dewhurst is an even more well-rounded portrait of this marvelous woman. I believe that if it had been left only to her own memory, there would have been a number of omissions - because her friends and family were asked to share their reminiscences, we have a much fuller view of what living in her world must have been like.
Colleen was endlessly generous, astoundingly profane, loving, supportive, continually strapped for cash, and outspoken. When she took on causes, tasks got completed, even as her own personal business fell to others because she was simply too disorganized to manage it. Her haven, The Farm, was a place of rest for numerous "strays," both human and animal, and often she went to sleep at night not quite sure who else was down the hall or in her living room.
For a look at what goes on back stage and in the mind of an actor preparing for a role, this is a priceless resource. For a hilarious take on the overblown egos of some directors and co-stars, this is a laugh-out-loud read. For a moving story of what it's like to lose someone who left an indelible mark on theatre and cultural life, as well as on the hearts of countless loved ones, friends and fans, this is a beautiful memorial.
