Frank Hauser and Russell Reich's Notes on Directing, a new reference from RCR Creative Press, might as well be called Notes on Creating Good Theater, for while the book's 160 pages do contain miscellaneous notes and advice to the director, the topics covered and suggestions offered are valuable for anyone who works in the profession.
The notes have been expanded from Hauser's informal notes on what goes into directing a play. These are not simply theories from an academic, but practical advice from a theater professional who has directed such actors as Ian McKellen and Judi Dench.
The book itself is divided into sections such as "Understanding the Script" and "Rehearsal Rules." In the sections, short, direct points give the reader advice such as "No actor likes a lazy director or ignorant one." The statement is then followed with one to three paragraphs which provide an insight or advice about how to follow it.
The points sometimes are common sense -- "Sincerely praise actors early and often." -- but it's good advice that can't be repeated often enough, particularly for neophyte directors. Sometimes, the authors contradict themselves: "Give actors corrective notes in private" followed by "Include every single member of the cast in your notes session." Each statement is followed by valuable reasons so the book allows the director to fit the advice to individual situations.
Notes that remind directors and other theater professionals (including critics) come mostly in the early sections, but the later portions of the book, which include theater games and rehearsal techniques, are interesting and important.