Review by Booklist Review
In his exhaustively researched biography about improvisational guru Del Close, Johnson calls Close the most important comedy figure of the last fifty years that you've never heard of. Indeed, there seem to be few comedians that Close hadn't either worked with onstage or taught in class: names like Mike Nichols, Tina Fey, John Belushi, Bill Murray, and Chris Farley barely scratch the surface. Since his death in 1999, it's become clear that Close's legacy will be his dedication to improvisation as a stand-alone art form. Close helped pioneer improvisation in the 1950s as a player in the St. Louis chapter of Chicago Compass (which eventually became Second City). But, unlike his peers with career ambitions, Close was all about exploration. In straightforward prose, Johnson captures the untamed spirit of a man who hung out with the Merry Pranksters in Haight-Ashbury, called Tiny Tim a friend, and, throughout most of his life, was an unrepentant drug addict. By the book's conclusion, readers will come to see Close as an inspiring, brilliant, and fearless man.--Eberle, Jerry Copyright 2008 Booklist
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
In his account of the life of conceptual humorist, teacher, actor and improvisational comedy maestro Del Close, Johnson (Close?s long time friend and a co-author, with him, of Truth in Comedy) affectionately recounts the successes and demons of a man largely unknown outside of comedy circles. As a teen, Close left his Kansas hometown for a traveling carnival, a formative performing experience, and eventually, he joined a small comedy troupe which lead to stand-up in New York, an appearance on Broadway, comedy recordings and "prodigious drug use." In 1967, Close helped create a long-form of comedy improv called the Harold, a significant performing breakthrough. During a ten-year stint providing directorial guidance to the famous Second City comedy theater in Chicago his reputation grew and he saw more than a few of his students join the cast of Saturday Night Live. When he died in 1999, his will made news: "I give my skull to the Goodman Theatre for a production of Hamlet." Johnson interviewed more than 80 friends and associates for this book, and his apotheosis of Close as the funny fireball and grand guru of American improvisational comedy is a delight to read. 50 b/w photos. (Apr.) Copyright 2008 Reed Business Information.
Review by Library Journal Review
Johnson (Life Before and After Monty Python), a devoted student of comedy, is an ideal writer to tell the story of well-known comedic pioneer Del Close. Close was a comedian's comedian: he was integral in developing the art of improvisation, the most challenging form of the professional comedic craft. Close was known to embellish many incidents in his life, so Johnson tries to distinguish between fact and fiction as he addresses each known contradiction. A longtime friend of Close, Johnson interviewed many of his comrades to elicit a definitive picture of the real person. Close, who seemed to know everyone in the business, was involved with either creative development or teaching involvement in comedy training including the St. Louis Compass, Second City in Chicago, the Harold in San Francisco, the ImprovOlympic, and even Saturday Night Live. Close's is a fascinating tale of eccentricity, living life from one extreme to the other, and gaining the title of the king of improv. Johnson's book should be read by anyone who has an interest in comedy and show business. This is the real thing.-Richard A. Dickey, Washington, DC (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Kirkus Book Review
The definitive biography of an improvisational comedy guru. If not for an unassuming, Kansas-born stand-up-comic-turned-actor-turned-director named Del Close (1934-1999), there would probably be no Saturday Night Live, SCTV or Animal House--in fact, modern film, television and stage comedy as a whole would be radically different. Soon after making his name with the 1959 album How to Speak Hip, Close moved to Chicago and became a key behind-the-scenes player at the legendary improvisational theater Second City. From '65 to '69 he lived in California, where he worked with San Francisco's The Committee improv troupe, toured with the Merry Pranksters and made light designs for the Grateful Dead. Returning to Chicago in 1970, he co-founded ImprovOlympic, a legendary comedy breeding ground. John Belushi, Bill Murray, Chris Farley, Tina Fey and Stephen Colbert are among the dozens of comic actors who have since cited Close as a key influence. Sardonic to the end, his deathbed words were, "Thank God. I'm tired of being the funniest person in the room." Johnson (Life Before and After Monty Python: The Solo Flights of the Flying Circus, 1993, etc.) presents an evenhanded look at his subject, who was a longtime friend. He heaps praise when it's justified (most of the time), but doesn't hold back when discussing Close's drug addiction. Fluent in the language of improvisation, the author manages to translate many of Close's concepts to the page, most notably the ins and outs of a long-form exercise called the Harold: Aspiring comedic actors are advised to study up. As an insider, Johnson was able to score revealing interviews with more than 80 Close acolytes, including Mike Nichols, Jim Belushi and Jon Favreau. Entertainment-industry denizens are well aware of Close's impact on the showbiz landscape, but this loving, honest portrait will help the rest of the world get hip to the guy who made comedy hip. Copyright ©Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
