{"product_id":"cutting-plays-for-performance-practical-guide-to-editing-plays","title":"Cutting Plays for Performance - Practical Guide to Editing Plays","description":"\u003cp\u003eIn this review of Cutting Plays for Performance the bottom line is clear: it is an indispensable, practical manual for directors, dramaturgs and editors who need a structured approach to cutting plays. The book's single biggest reason to buy is its actionable process - it walks through why to cut, how to cut for time and audience, and how to communicate those choices to a production team, making the editing task less guesswork and more collaborative planning. This review focuses on how the book performs as a working toolkit rather than an academic text.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eKey Features\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eComprehensive guidance:\u003c\/strong\u003e Offers clear explanations of the various reasons for cutting so readers can align edits with artistic goals.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eMethodical approaches:\u003c\/strong\u003e Describes multiple methods to serve different purposes, including shortening for time and shaping story for specific audiences.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eTeam communication:\u003c\/strong\u003e Suggests practical ways to communicate cuts to a production team, helping preserve clarity across collaborators.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eStructural focus:\u003c\/strong\u003e Covers structural issues such as plot beats and rhetorical concepts so cuts maintain narrative integrity.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eLegal awareness:\u003c\/strong\u003e Addresses legal considerations so users remain mindful of rights and permissions when editing texts.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eWorksheets and examples:\u003c\/strong\u003e Includes practical worksheets and step-by-step examples that guide the reader through real editing tasks.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\u003ch2\u003eWho It's For\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eCutting Plays for Performance is best suited to theatre directors, stage managers, dramaturgs and advanced students who regularly adapt plays for performance and need a clear, repeatable process. The book's practical worksheets and worked examples make it particularly useful for teams preparing staged readings, truncated festival pieces, or time-limited productions.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThose looking for an academic history of play editing or a collection of case studies without hands-on tools should look elsewhere; this book prioritizes applied technique and workflow over theoretical breadth.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003ePros \u0026amp; Cons\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePros\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eProvides a usable, step-by-step process for cutting that can be applied to both classical and modern plays.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eIncludes worksheets and concrete examples that make planning and execution straightforward for production teams.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eFocuses on communication and legal considerations, reducing common risks when altering texts.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCons\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cul\u003e\u003cli\u003eThe text emphasizes practical workflow over deep theoretical analysis, so readers seeking extensive scholarly context may find it limited.\u003c\/li\u003e\u003c\/ul\u003e\u003ch2\u003eSpecifications\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003ctable\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eTitle\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eCutting Plays for Performance\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eAuthors\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eAili Huber, Toby Malone\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eContent focus\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003ePractical editing methods, worksheets and examples\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eCoverage\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eClassical and modern plays; structural and legal issues\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eIncludes\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eWorksheets and step-by-step editing examples\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003ePrimary uses\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eTime editing, audience shaping, storytelling and team communication\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003c\/table\u003e\u003ch2\u003eOur Verdict\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eCutting Plays for Performance is a pragmatic tool for practitioners who must make clear, defensible edits for live production. Its emphasis on method, communication and legal awareness makes it good value for directors and dramaturgs who need reliable workflows rather than theoretical discussion. Buy it if you want a working play-cutting blueprint for collaborative productions.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eFrequently Asked Questions\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDoes this book include practical tools I can use in rehearsal?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eYes, it contains worksheets and step-by-step examples intended for planning and executing cuts during rehearsal and preproduction.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eIs it suitable for classical plays as well as modern work?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eYes, the text explicitly addresses cutting across both classical and modern plays and covers structural considerations for each.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWill it help with legal issues when altering text?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe book discusses legal considerations to raise awareness, though productions should still consult rights holders or legal counsel for final permissions.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Aili Huber, Toby Malone","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":48777616097499,"sku":"0367748924","price":182.59,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0724\/1043\/1707\/files\/51_SqtJRBCL._SL1200.jpg?v=1778874456","url":"https:\/\/gearmusthave.com\/products\/cutting-plays-for-performance-practical-guide-to-editing-plays","provider":"GearMustHave","version":"1.0","type":"link"}