I so hoped that this would be a top rating, five stars, but it just didn’t rise to that level for me. Background here is author Rob Roth was rereading the Warhol diaries a number of years ago and notice reference Warhol made to recorded conversations with Capote and the possibility the colloborated on a play. He reached out to the Warhol archives and was granted permission to search for these tapes in the archives. Once digitized (at Roth’s expense), he began the process of listening to them, discovering hours of recorded conversation between the two men. While the original intent of the recordings was a joint project between the men, that never came to fruition.

Until Roth.

From those conversations, Roth created this play “Warhol Capote”. The actual words of each man comprise the play. They are lifted from the recorded conversations. What Roth did was extract certain of the conversations and compile them into a structure of sorts, something that tells a story of these men and their place in their respective artistic worlds, their self-awareness of their art, of their place.

It all sounds like it should be very interesting but for the most part, I found the conversation between these two artistic giants to be a massive bore. In real life, when I find other people boring, I often fear that it’s actually I who is the boring one and that if I were more interesting I would be more interested in others. That’s at play here too - I’m probably the one who’s “off” in finding their conversations boring.

Then again, a lot of their conversation was straight up gossip. Sure, it was gossip mostly about people who have celebrity level of recognition in their time but those celebrities were their friends or at least in their social circle. Maybe that would or should make the gossip more interesting but I found it largely pointless. Boring.

It didn’t help that Capote was likely drunk or otherwise under the influence of some substance, a circumstance that turns most people into a dead bore and unfortunately, Capote was no exception. Warhol, too, may have indulged but overall I found him to be mostly walled off. He doesn’t reveal much about his thoughts and inner world. One gets the feeling that he’s walled himself off even from himself at this point in life. Almost that he’s frightened of himself, of what he’ll find, frightened of others, frightened of life. His world seems quite small, limited in experiences.

I don’t know the entire body of artistic work of either these men but I got the sense that some of their best product came early in their careers. They seem to consciously be chasing their next authentic output, looking to become enthusiastic about their respective creative process. They themselves seem bored with life, with their celebrity. The conversations that touched on these themes were actually some of the the most curious…interesting isn’t the right word…curious seems about right. Like if they had pressed deeper here, they might have arrived at something truly profound. But Capote was too drunk and Warhol too walled off.

In the book, after the scripted play, Roth includes a series of snippets of conversation where the Warhol and Capote touch on different topics - nightclubs, sex, etc. But even here, the snippets fall just short of interesting. Some of the best reading was Roth’s description of this project itself - the immense efforts it took to bring the work to life.

A three star read but I’m still hopeful that, if I ever get a chance to see this place performed, I’ll find it’s actually a five start piece of work. I think in the hands of the right actors, it could get there. I downloaded quite a long time ago via #Netgalley and only now have gotten around to reading and reviewing. My thanks to Roth, the publisher and netgalley for making this available for no charge.

‘WARHOLCAPOTE: A Non-Fiction Invention’ by Rob Roth is based on the stage play composed entirely of conversations between icons Andy Warhol and Truman Capote.

Andy Warhol and Truman Capote became friends when Warhol, as a young fan, started writing Capote. At a late point in their friendship they conceived of a stage play comprising their real life conversations, so they started taping themselves. Sadly, it didn’t happen while they were both alive. Rob Roth made the project happen and the stage play is presented here along with what I believe are some extra vignettes that didn’t make it in to the play as well as an afterword by Roth.

The book offers a unique glimpse into their artistic processes, personal struggles, and the complexities of their bond. Reading stage plays is strange for me, but the stage notes and the sparse nature of the staging makes it a fluid read.

Thank you NetGalley for the eARC. I had no idea these two people even knew each other let alone wrote a play! I felt like I was eavesdropping and trust me, I was there for it!

Using previously restricted audiocassettes from the Warhol archives, Rob Roth wrote a play featuring dialogue between Andy Warhol and Truman Capote, based on conversations they had late in their lives. The play itself is haunting, particularly as it highlights Capote’s struggles with alcohol and drugs.

Further, Roth includes transcripts of additional conversations on various topics highlighting the lives of certain (unnamed) celebrities in 1970s Manhattan, LA, and London. The redacted names are a little distracting, but it’s still both entertaining and more than a bit sad, as it shows the struggles of closeted individuals at that time.

Roth closes with a narrative describing his own journey to having the play produced.

As an archivist, I found the Roth’s process most fascinating, as he convinced the directors of the Warhol to allow him to have the sealed tapes digitized and transcribed (an enormous expense). The personalities of both men come through. Warhol, who once stalked Capote, still seems like the young, starstruck fan, while Capote’s own insecurities are also evident. #TrumanCapote #NetGalley

WarholCapote is a play written from actual recordings of Andy Warhol and Truman Capote but ingeniously and artfully recreated into rich and entertaining dialogue. I am fans of both of them and felt like the dialogue really accurately depicted their personalities and outlooks on life. It is a short play and a quick read but there are also segments by theme as an additional theme as well as a glossary of the references (I was proud to say that I know all of the references). Roth also shares insights into what went into researching, getting permission to access many hours of recordings, as well as staging and producing this play. A quick enjoyable read and I would love to see it staged.

Thank you to Netgalley and Simon and Schuster for an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I knew of Andy Warhol. I knew of Truman Capote. Separately. I like the idea of this play/book. I would love to listen to these tapes. This book helped me take a deep dive into some of the subjects that these two discuss. I found it both fascinating and trivial. Thanks to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster for the ARC.

This book cries out for voices. This is due to the conversations between Warhol and Capote being loaded with interruptions, fragmentary exclamations and repetitions. The intonations and pauses in speech would be a true bonus. The play, which has been assembled from transcripts of tapes, is nicely done. It would be good as a performance. The second part of the book offers talk on a variety of subjects. As a whole you get a feel for the differing personalities (or at least as presented here) - Warhol bouncy and enthusiastic, Capote world weary, but no large new insights into what made them tick.

What a genius Rob Roth — the Tony-nominated director of "Beauty and the Beast" — is! Who else could take 80 hours (recorded on tapes) of Andy Warhol and Truman Capote gossiping, pontificating and philosophizing and turn the lot into a riveting play?

In 1978, Warhol proposed to Capote that the two collaborate on a play. In typical po-mo fashion, Warhol suggested they record their talks and fashion the conversations into a play. That play came to nothing; but, luckily, Roth has faired much better. It was produced at Harvard in 2017, but now everyone can enjoy Roth’s masterpiece.

"WARHOLCAPOTE" (how Capote would have groused at losing top billing!) could easily have been titled "2 Bitchin' Celebs Bitchin’." But readers won’t care because of all of the insights they’ll gain into two of the most creative minds of the 20th century, men who helped usher in the celebrity circuit that continues to this day. Sure, both — especially Capote — were highly unreliable narrators; yet, Roth manages to reveal much using only the words he found on those tapes. Highly, highly recommended.

In the interest of full disclosure, I received this book from NetGalley and Simon and Schuster in exchange for an honest review.

I go back and forth on my how I feel about this work-Andy Warhol has been a favorite of mine since the eighties and who better to be paired with than Truman Capote? But I felt some disappointment, especially reading about the "addition of outside quotes" for Andy (though they are direct quotes and even I grew tired of reading "Gee. God. Wow" though that is how he talked). I really enjoyed the bonus material-quite amusing. Roth also worked long and hard to make this happen and fulfill the duo's intent AND stayed as true to the original concept as well as could be expected. It is a non-fiction invention, after all. Maybe I'm just peeved that Capote interrupted Andy so much :)
I'm looking forward to hearing a reading next week and really can't wait for the time when it is reprinted with redacted names intact!
WarholCapote-they don't make 'em like that anymore!
#NetGalley

Two legends known for filtering real life - be it murder or celebrity visages - through their imaginations have their own real conversations filtered into a narrative of the play they never got to complete. WARHOLCAPOTE uses Andy Warhol and Truman Capote’s actual words to create five fictionalized conversations between the two men towards the end of their lives.

This play/book is a treasure trove for fans of Warhol and/or Capote, but I think even those who are not fans will find this exercise interesting. These are the kinds of conversations we all wish we could be a fly on the wall for - two icons opening up about their deepest insecurities and also gossiping about their famous friends.

As an ardent fan of both, I could probably listen to all the countless hours of tapes of these two bickering - Andy being endlessly upbeat and Truman being massively annoyed by it - and I am so grateful that this exists at all. Here’s hoping I can someday see a performance!

A play based on the lost tapes of friends Andy Warhol and Truman Capote.

I really should know better. I love Broadway, but I hate reading plays. As a fan of both Warhol and Capote, I thought that would be enough to hold my interest. Especially since I had no idea they were friends (I know nothing about celebs other than their work, and sometimes not even that). Some of the conversations were interesting, a few made me laugh out loud, and I did enjoy references to happenings in the 70s and 80s. Mostly, though, I was thinking “ffs why did they think this was a good idea?”

Hands down the most interesting fact I learned was that the two were introduced by Jackie Kennedy’s sister.

Very interesting concept of taking these tapes and turning it into a "play." I think it worked okay. The second part of the book is just extra conversations without any real context. I found this interesting, I am a huge Warhol fan and I had no idea that he and Capote were friends. Capote is a great writer but wow, what an ego!! I was very irritated that in the second part of the book they are talking so much about different people and they don't let us know who they are talking about it. (Capote's boyfriend, an heiress, an actress, etc.) If you're spilling tea I need it all..

All in all, pretty entertaining. I found a little difficulty reading their conversations only because they cut each other off a lot and don't finish their sentences. (Just like me trying to have a conversation in real life!) Also Andy seems like he was so sweet!

An enthralling what if based on a play that Warhol and Capote were going to do but went kaput when Warhol died. The play is imagined, but using the tapes and quotes of the two. Definitely a very fascinating what if

Thank you for sending this review copy of WARHOLCAPOTE by Rob Roth. I don’t review books on NetGalley, and will contact you when I write about it elsewhere.

I think I'd really enjoy seeing this play preformed. It's always hard to get the emotion in these kind of shows just by straight reading it. A good actor will really be able to show Truman's decline throughout.

It's interesting to see Andy evaluating the circumstances throughout since he's the one that has hindsight into Truman's struggles and fall.

I wonder if you're someone who knew nothing about Truman Capote or Andy Warhol what you would think. I know the backgrounds and have studied both more than just superficially, so I get it. But without having someone to act it out I think it's kind of hard to read. To care about why these two artists talk the way they do. The references to Tennessee Williams, Marilyn Monroe, and Liza Minnelli, it's all a specific snapshot of time and scene.

I enjoyed the excerpts that Rob Roth includes after the play ends. Capote and Warhol really lived in a world dripping with celebrity. I also enjoyed Roth's afterward explaining how he started the project .

All together I enjoyed reading this and hope I can see a small production somewhere someday. Probably will have to YouTube it eventually.

4.5, rounded down.

My sincere thanks to Netgalley, Simon & Schuster, and the author for the ARC in exchange for this honest review.

As someone semi-obsessed with Warhol (and to a much lesser extent, Capote), and someone who reads over 100 plays each year, this would seem tailor-made for me. And to a large extent, it DOES fulfill its promise. My hesitation to award it a full 5 stars are two-fold - it seems a missed opportunity that out of 80 hours of recorded conversation between two such titans, Roth has only managed to salvage a mere 80-minutes worth for his play.

Secondly, the script for said play only comprises 45% of this text. The OTHER 55% is excerpts Roth decided NOT to include (many of which are more revealing that what made the final cut), plus a totally superfluous 'glossary' which hilariously elucidates who Liza, Scorsese, DeNiro, Halston, etc. are - and even what the White House is - for those Neanderthals who are unaware! Also included is what might be the most interesting section to me - a brief summary of how Roth gained access to this material and a diary of the many setbacks bringing it to the stage.

One must be grateful that even this small fragment has seen the light of day, but one hopes that at some point the entire transcripts for the conversations gets published.

Utterly fascinating.

I had no idea that Andy Warhol and Truman Capote were friends so reading Warholcapote was intriguing. This play was born when Rob Roth was reading "The Andy Warhol Diaries" and found out that Andy and Truman wanted to write a Broadway play. Meanwhile, for that to happen, they decided to tape their conversations as a way of portraying a play about real people.

Rob finds a way of having access to those tapes and the dots start to connect. Now, we have an irresistibly funny and honest play about these iconic artists as their conversations touch into art, sex, drugs, fame and friendship.

While I was doing my research about this play, I found some videos of Stephen Spinella and Dan Butler at the American Repertory Theater playing these two artists and I highly recommend them so you can visualize the rhythm and dynamic of the play.

I pretty much enjoyed reading it and I hope I can see it at the theater someday.

Thank you to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster for this eARC.

As a fan of both Andy Warhol and Truman Capote, for me reading this book felt like sitting in on a conversation with the two legends. Unfiltered and unpredictable, this book is a must-read for anyone who loves Warhol or Capote, as well as anyone who wants to peer into the minds of two of the greatest artists of the 20th century.

WarholCapote
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (5/5)
This play is fantastic. It is such a fascinating concept. The quotes and conversations are arranged so well and the buildup from funny to serious is fantastic. This is the kind of work that sticks with you. It provided a really interesting perspective on two incredibly famous gay creatives. It was a fantastic read, and I highly encourage others to read it when it comes out.

I know a little bit about both Warhol and Capote and their art but mostly have always been fascinated by them as figures and artists. Roth creates this interesting and experimental play based on actual audiotapes of conversations between Warhol and Capote. I’ve not seen the play but reading it was very cool and I imagine it’s wonderful staged.

What I also liked was the behind the scenes story of how Roth came to write this text and some of his motivations behind doing so. I don’t think you have to know a lot about either person to enjoy this delightful text.