Caffe Cino: the birthplace of Off-Off-Broadway

Abstract

Thanks to Stone's careful mining of newspapers, periodicals, and programs, and his interviews with those involved with Caffe Cino, the book provides the reader with a deep sense of the creative spirit that made the Caffe the center of New York's Off-Off-Broadway movement.

43-2731 PN2277 2004-27788 CIP Stone, Wendell C. Caffe Cino: the birthplace of Off-Off-Broadway. Southern Illinois, 2005. 227p bibl index afp ISBN 0809326442, $60.00; ISBN 0809326450 pbk, $30.00

Caffe Cino is one of the important US theater venues of the 20th century, and Stone (State Univ. of West Georgia) is the first scholar to undertake writing its history. And an engaging and readable history it is. Thanks to Stone's careful mining of newspapers, periodicals, and programs, and his interviews with those involved with Caffe Cino, the book provides the reader with a deep sense of the creative spirit that made the Caffe the center of New York's Off-Off-Broadway movement. The author provides a production history of the Caffe and offers insightful criticism of the management style (if one really existed) of founder Joe Cino. The freedom the actors, playwrights, and directors enjoyed in experimenting with theatrical styles and content became the envy of those working in other venues. Important theatrical voices were given a chance to hone their craft. As they were at most Off-Off-Broadway theaters, budgets at Caffe Cino were nonexistent: no one was paid and the quality of the productions varied greatly. The Caffe closed prematurely in 1968, when Cino died and when the city began to enforce zoning regulations in the Village. This is an excellent complement to Stephen Bottoms's Playing Underground (CH, May'05, 42-5177). Summing Up: Highly recommended. Large theater collections; all levels.M. D. Whitlatch, Buena Vista University