GIVE MY REGARDS TO NOWHERE - Richard Engling


Dwayne Finnegan believes that he has made the theatrical connection that will finally give him a shot at working on Broadway.  All he has to do is show the Broadway producer what he's capable of ... no pressure there, right? He's got an idea for Shakespeare's Titus Andronicus that should set the town on fire (does Chicago need another fire?) and he's got a cast that will get some attention and who are more than capable of pulling it off.

But first there's the little problem of getting the theatre. Spaces get booked many months in advance, but Dwayne needs a theatre ASAP. Those still available, are so for a reason, but his technical director assures him the space can be made ready in time for opening. But in keeping with Murphy's Law, securing the space for his masterful production is only one of many set-backs Finnegan will face before the coup de grâce.

I've spent a fair amount of time working in theatre myself and can recognize all these characters and all these situations as quite authentic. And perhaps it's for that reason that I didn't find this particularly funny (this is billed as a comic tale) and at the same time, not having insider knowledge might prevent some of the humor (?) from coming across. For instance, will the average reader understand the absurdity of choosing Titus Andronicus to make a bold statement?

I didn't really connect with any of these characters, even if they were familiar to me, which leaves the story as the major source of entertainment here.  The story isn't bad, but it gets a little long with one disaster after another, and the personal issues mean almost nothing to me since I didn't really care about the characters and therefore just added nothing for me.

My biggest 'problem' with the story is the climactic disaster (I'm trying not to give anything away) which comes about almost randomly. Nothing Dwayne says or does creates the climax to the book, which makes this really disappointing.

Equally interesting ... the denouement would seem to me to be positive and uplifting, but Dwayne has trouble seeing it that way.  So are all his problems ultimately a result of his own outlook?   

Looking for a good book? Give My Regards to Nowhere by Richard Engling shows a strong knowledge of a life in theatre, but the characters don't grab attention in the right way and the story ultimately leaves the reader unsatisfied (much like Dwayne himself). A fine read, but not recommend-worthy.

I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher, through LibraryThing, in exchange for an honest review.

3 stars

* * * * * *

Give My Regards to Nowhere: A Director's Tale

author: Richard Engling

publisher: Polarity Ensemble Books

ISBN: 9780977661077

paperback, 282 pages

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