Sometimes one can learn more about acting by looking at it from the opposite direction, through the eyes of the director. That is the outcome of reading Notes on Directing, a thin but thorough tome by British director Frank Hauser and his American apprentice Russell Reich. Yes, it is an indispensable resource for anyone faced with staging a theatre project, and a straightforward glimpse into the art of playmaking. But it also lets actors in on what is expected of them and how they can more effectively take direction, by giving them insights into what the director thinks and sees.

This book is set up in sequential order, from casting to first read-through, all the way up to the moment the curtain rises and beyond. If you don't know what the director is getting at with a particular note, if you don't know the importance of thanking the stage manager, if you don't know how to recreate that hilarious bit of business after opening night, then this is the book for you. Only by understanding what is being asked of you can you fully comprehend what you are supposed to be giving. Who knows, maybe it will also lead you into a new career choice, directing your own plays.