A.B. Shiffrin wrote a number of plays, so it is no leap that his novel Glitter is about a New York playwright having a Broadway debut.
Steve Stevenson is a country boy, unused to mixing with intellectuals. Theatrical producer Pete Bryce sent a letter saying if Steve was in New York, to meet him about his play. Showing up at the office, Steve braves a lot of hot air, and finds the secretary Jen Barrie was the one who actually read the play; actually invited him to New York. Contemporary and authentic, "Return of Evening" was one of the best she had read - about a woman farmer who hires a man she falls in love with, who turns out to be an escaped convict.
Steve knows from nothing and Jen takes him under her wing (she'd like to produce plays herself someday). Steve begins rewrites (now called "Daughter of the Earth"), gets a good agent, and Bryce agrees to produce it. Top actress Olivia Shaw is perfect for the lead, veteran director Cholly Squires is hired, and a Hollywood leading man is cast. It is now in the realm of set designers, stage managers, press agents, and money backers who have creative ideas. Steve and Jen work closely through rehearsals (now called "Planters of the Seed") and the two fall in love. There are constant threats it will close, despite a packed house in New Haven previews. If it is a hit, there will be money for everyone, and possible offers from Hollywood for Steve. Will it sparkle in Boston before the big Broadway opening?
A.B. Shiffrin also wrote for TV in the 1940's/50's. It is easy to see this was based on real life experience about every angle of producing a play at the Broadway level. There are definite shades of Woody Allen's Bullets Over Broadway. Entertaining, yet serious business. The cover makes it look sexier than it is. I dislike the title, a better one might be Footlights. The characters are strong and it doesn't progress in a conventional way, even the ending is not what I'd expect. A solid novel from the fifties, and a real look at the theatrical world. Enjoyable.
1953 / Paperback / 192 pages
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