I found this book to be exceptionally interesting. In 2023, we are seeing more than ever that theatre audiences are reacting to live theatre in more extreme ways. (See the ever growing number of discussions on people singing along in theatres, recording on their phones, bringing in full meals, etc.) However, Right This Way shows us that these bigger reactions to theatre are not new, and that theatregoers have been responding to live performances in just about every way possible.
I will admit, several reviewers have criticised this book for including too many historical anecdotes and stories, but that is exactly why I loved it. There are a few tangents that I felt weren’t strictly necessary to the book but all in all I think this wide-ranging approach worked perfectly. In the twenty-first century, we tend to have a fairly strict idea of what an audience looks like and how they act, and this broad approach challenges that notion!

Who Is This For- If you have found yourself humming along to Hamilton or planning your theatre trips months in advance, this is a must-read.

It has become a bigger part of life than we might have ever imagined, yet it is something in which we participate without giving it much thought. How are we part of the audience? What has that experience been like?

Robert Viagas explores such things in Right This Way: A History of the Audience, from before the days of ancient Greek theatre to our modern audience experiences.

The author explores not just the straightforward history of how audiences formed and the kinds of things they watched; he also considers how the desires of the audience shaped various forms of art and entertainment, how the audience’s understanding of religion and morality affected art and entertainment (and vice versa), the development and use of various forms of technology in captivating audiences, and the relationship between the audience and the space of performance. The behavior of the audience and the prospect of violence is also considered, as well as how matters of race, ethnicity, and gender shaped and were shaped by audiences and entertainment. The author also gave space to how various entertainers have given space for the audience to be involved in the expression of the art.

Since so much of our time is spent as an audience, it is good to consider what an audience is about and how we can well appreciate art as an audience.

Viagas’ history of audiences was certainly wide-ranging (ancient Greek theater to solitary streaming to religious services) but the book was a mixed bag for me. There were many sections of interesting facts and ideas. A couple of examples: The darkening of theater lights or the quick blackness on a screen before the movie begins represent audience members closing our eyes - like going to sleep and entering a type of dream world where we suspend disbelief and are ready to receive the story. Cool! And there is a fascinating section on what Trump actually said on the last Inauguration Day, and what his audience said they heard him say.
But, the book sometimes drifts into telling us the obvious. (A list of things we can now do with our cells phones, for example.)
So I did enjoy the book overall and I am recommending it if you are a NF History fan like me, but be aware some sections drag a bit.

So much good information here I had never considered about the history of live audiences and shows. As someone who spends a lot of time in an audience, I found it pretty interesting. Some of the digressions were a bit tedious to read, though.

A look into the history of audiences and what function they serve. There are times I wish this history went more in depth or had more analysis, but overall, it is fine.

Disclaimer: I received a free copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I love books about history, and I especially adore books about niche historical topics. Right This Way: A History of the Audience is an upcoming nonfiction book by Robert Viagas. The publisher describes this book as “a pop history of audiences through the ages,” discussing a range of media types from Ancient Greek plays to scrolling on your phone. While this book has some great writing and the author is clearly knowledgeable about theater history, the lack of specific focus and disorganized structure made this a confusing and strained read.

My lower rating might be explained by my preconceived notions about what this book was about. From looking at the cover to reading the description, I thought this book would be specifically about the history of changing audience behaviors. I expected to read about what historical records know about how audiences were expected to act and how these social norms changed, from ancient times to now. And while this book did discuss theater audiences’ behaviors, it was also overflowing with historical facts and stories, ranging from the intensely interesting to the basic.

Right This Way suffers from too broad of a focus. Because of the large scope and the breadth of the work, the work feels more like a loose collection of related moments in history. Audience behavior gets lost in the facts, quotations, and historical moments of different types of media. Viagas does not just touch upon theater and live shows, but almost every form of medium that elicits an audience. From political speeches, movies, FDR’s fireside chats, performance art, and theater, it was too much to describe in one concise book without having to rehash all of history.

However, this lead to tangents and historical info that didn’t seem relevant at types. For example, many pages were dedicated to the Lincoln assassination and the January 6th Capital Insurrection, which dragged on and felt like it wasn’t related.

There is still lots to love in this book. Viagas includes some fascinating information about Greek and Roman theater. The author is knowledgeable about theater and a good writer. His command of words and writing style shines through in some moving quotes.

I would prefer this book to be edited and just focus on one or two forms of mediums and their audiences. It would have been better to focus on one medium, like plays and theater, and just focus on the history, psychology, and behaviors of audiences there and to do a deep dive, rather than a shallow skimming of all history.

If you love reading about history and are a lover of theater and the arts, this might be a good pick for you. Knowing that this book takes a broad look at all types of mediums throughout history might be less of a shock when reading. While I was not a fan of the seemingly unrelated and well-known information, I am sure another history buff will love this work.

Right This Way will be published on September 15, 2023.

My thanks to both NetGalley and the publisher Globe Pequot, Applause for an advanced copy of this book that looks at what enjoy and get from watching and experiencing media, the technology that makes an audience want more, and what the new world of streaming and growing apartness of people means for everybody.

Before the pandemic a friend of mine began running house shows, concerts in his living room. People would email reservations, sometimes cash, and would enjoy entertainment, from up-and-coming artists, and artists who were popular, but made more working a living room than a small club, as drinks, food and a bed were provided. Plus all their merch sales went to them. I remember thinking it was odd, going and than thinking it was amazing. One might not know the singer, the song, or like the genre, but it was honest, fun and a shared experience, that were some of my favorite concert going experiences. There is nothing like hearing a song, enjoying it, than offering the singer some of the fine dip and chips you have been hoarding the whole time. Since the early days of sitting around a fire listening to stories, to 4.2 million people on Copacabana Beach listening to Rod Steward, people love to be audiences to art, and in many ways humans need this experience of being together, sharing something that can't be repeated, even if people are recording with their cell phones. Robert Viagas, writer, scholar and teacher in his book Right This Way: A History of the Audience discusses the feeling of being an audience, why we need live events, and even solo gaming experiences for ourselves and others, and what technology might be adding or in many places taking away.

The book begins with a look at how groups began to get together, firstly for protection around the fire, sharing stories, to make people feel better about the dark, and how this tradition expanded. Greek plays are looked at next, with their long tradition, and long shows, seeming very much like going to the cinema in the 1930's. Going to a drams meant an all day affair, some short plays, a funny play, maybe a ribald play, and finally the longer work. The book looks at the catharsis that plays share, and also the fact that people can see the feeling they feel on the stage, and know that they are not alone. What I enjoyed was the behind the scene information the language of stage I was familiar with, but that the author breaks down and explains in more detail. And of course how the technology has changed, from natural light, to candles, to spotlights, and scenery changes. The author also looks at films and even video games, explaining how people watch and interact, and what is gained from it.

A very different book about media and its importance. I say media as thought there is a lot about plays and drama, as the author is a true expert on this, there is a lot about movies, television, and what might be coming. Viagas is a very good writer, with a nice clear voice that is easy to follow, interesting and when something technical might come up, is very good at explaining. One learns quite a lot about being in the moment watching something play out, on stage, on screen, or even playing video games. Viagas has done a lot of research, and tells a very complete history, that is filled with a lot of intriguing facts.

The next few years should be interesting for media, and I mean interesting in the blessing/cursed kind of way. Streaming is keeping people out of movie theaters ,but studios are losing money on streaming. Striking writers and artists, might force changes through, as will the next pandemic, as nobody has learned anything there will be more. So the future or audiences and live entertainment could be in flux. Robert Viagas book is a very good argument for going out, and having a good time.