"And Furthermore" by Dame Judi Dench: Book Review

"And Furthermore" by Dame Judi Dench
St. Martin's, 268 pp., $26.99
Reviewed by David Marshall James


Unless one were fortunate enough to catch Dame Judi Dench in performance at the Old Vic, at the National Theatre or Stratford, or at one of the theatres in London's West End, then it's unlikely that one knew much about her until "As Time Goes By" began playing on U.S. television.

Then came her Oscar-nominated performance in "Mrs. Brown," her Oscar-winning role in "Shakespeare in Love," and her ongoing portrayals of "M" in the James Bond movies, and then how could one not know of the actress?

With a fifty-plus-year career on the boards, the author (she freely admits she couldn't have possibly written a book, so she dictated this one to her earlier biographer, John Miller, but her voice comes through loud and clear, with projection quality to reach what the Yanks call the second balcony) dispenses a thorough review of everything she's done professionally, on stage, TV, and screen.

Those expecting some personal tell-all or confessional should stick to the tabs, for D.J.D. is definitely of the Humphrey Bogart school of acting, inasmuch as she subscribes to his philosophy of "an actor doesn't owe the audience anything except a good performance."

She does give a few notes on her marriage (her late husband was fellow actor Michael Williams), her daughter, and grandson.

However, if D.J.D. has had secret loves or love affairs, you'd never know it from here. (The reader does gain the sneaking suspicion that she has at least a teensy crush on the actor Tim Pigott-Smith.)

Nevertheless, D.J.D. expresses her likes and dislikes with that projectile voice. She has acted in plays by Chekhov, Coward, and Shakespeare, and is indeed intent upon bringing the Bard to the masses, although she doesn't care for all his plays.

"A Midsummer Night's Dream" (and the role of Titania) and "Twelfth Night" are undoubtedly two of her favorites, although she declares she wouldn't cross the street to see "The Merchant of Venice," much less play in it, although she did once.

She directed Kenneth Branagh in "Much Ado About Nothing," played Gertrude to Daniel Day-Lewis's Hamlet (and that's quite a sexy photo of the two of them in action), and triumphed as Cleopatra to Sir Anthony Hopkins's Antony, with live snakes crawling over her for the death scene.

Many people may not be aware that D.J.D. portrayed Sally Bowles in the first London production of "Cabaret," directed by Hal Prince in 1968.

She has also done Stephen Sondheim's "A Little Night Music" and starred in the original production of the Andre Previn/Johnny Mercer musical "The Good Companions."

At times she gets deliciously gossipy about the London theatre and fellow actors, although not overly so-- many are still round and about, and she hopes to continue working.

She also recounts interesting scenes from Hollywood and Broadway, along with some takes on American performers.

Yet, above it all, D.J.D. is a (most worthy) standard-bearer for the theater, of that magic that can only happen between live performers and an audience.

If I were teaching a theatre class, this book would be required reading. "Lifetime learners" have much to gain from it as well.

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