The pure pleasure of caricaturist Al Hirschfeld’s unique view of live theater

It was with the greatest anticipation that I pushed off reading the next books in my backlog when I received my copy of The American Theater As Seen By Hirschfeld. Everything else could wait while I imbibed some joy and exhilaration at the wonder of this grand institution of an artist. It, and he, did not disappoint.

For more decades than I’ve been around, Al Hirschfeld attended theater, made notes and rushed home to create a caricature of what he saw, for the front page of the Arts & Leisure section of the Sunday New York Times. His notes to himself included every detail of the costumes: designs on ties, ruffles on sleeves, short dress or long — everything. Makeup, hair — Hirschfeld had to reproduce it all better than any photographer, because he wanted to immortalize the moment, and put the reader in the front row.

Even if you couldn’t see the play yourself, you could live it vicariously through the pencils and pens of Al Hirschfeld. And for most people, that was their lifeline to theater. Fortunately, it was also the best they could possibly ask for.