I Was Better Last Night: A Memoir
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- Create Date：2022-04-17 18:21:36
- Update Date：2025-09-14
- Status：finish
- Author：Harvey Fierstein
- ISBN：B097CL394B
- Environment：PC/Android/iPhone/iPad/Kindle
Reviews
Tom
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Well written compelling read。 But， a bit too long。， particularly about the various permutations of La Cage。
Ellen L
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Audiobook。 Five stars for his written voice。 Five stars for his audio voice。 Five stars for him。
Scott Delgado
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I never knew just how much Fierstein had done， but that is because I'm not very invested in Broadway。 This book was enlightening。 Definitely for anyone who is a fan of the stage。 But also for anyone who loves Torch Song Trilogy， there is a ton of background information in this book。 I never knew just how much Fierstein had done， but that is because I'm not very invested in Broadway。 This book was enlightening。 Definitely for anyone who is a fan of the stage。 But also for anyone who loves Torch Song Trilogy， there is a ton of background information in this book。 。。。more
Sara Hodorowski
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This is the epitome of big gay energy。 He doesn’t hold back， but the utmost optimism shines through even the darkest parts of his life。
Maryellen Cyr
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I'm a long time fan of Harvey Fierstein。 Overall I enjoyed this book。 It felt like a tasty table of appetizers。 It was worth staying to the end for the touching revelation about his relationship with his father。 The gossipy parts weren't vindictive or hurtful and I admired that。 It must be great to be his friend！ I'm a long time fan of Harvey Fierstein。 Overall I enjoyed this book。 It felt like a tasty table of appetizers。 It was worth staying to the end for the touching revelation about his relationship with his father。 The gossipy parts weren't vindictive or hurtful and I admired that。 It must be great to be his friend！ 。。。more
Jade
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It’s been a very long time since I’ve sat down and spent hour after hour reading a single book。 What a life and what a career！
Peter Adamson
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I adored this book！ However， I recognize that you may need （more than passing） familiarity with him and/or his work to appreciate this memoir。I have been crossing paths with Mr。 Fierstein since moving to NYC 22 years ago， and am friendly/acquainted with a few of the people he mentions in the book。 So I have lots of stories！ I will share one here。I was in a benefit concert version of MACK AND MABEL about twenty years ago， and Harvey， having struck gold with Edna in HAIRSPRAY， was in it。 The whole I adored this book！ However， I recognize that you may need （more than passing） familiarity with him and/or his work to appreciate this memoir。I have been crossing paths with Mr。 Fierstein since moving to NYC 22 years ago， and am friendly/acquainted with a few of the people he mentions in the book。 So I have lots of stories！ I will share one here。I was in a benefit concert version of MACK AND MABEL about twenty years ago， and Harvey， having struck gold with Edna in HAIRSPRAY， was in it。 The whole thing was thrown together but off-book， so we ALL were scrambling to remember lines and lyrics。 I saw him in the crossover at Lincoln Center， studying his libretto， and said， "Are you nervous about the show？" He replied， as only he could。"Are you kidding？？？ I'm Harvey Fierstein！ I could take a shit on the stage and everyone would applaud。"And。。。scene。 。。。more
Nate
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MehIt begins well enough， with some interesting back story。 But once the action moves to Off-Broadway and the trilogy， the book bogs down in names and names and names and events and events and events， none of which I care about。 You get the suspicion that he wants to include everyone and everything so that no one will blame him for leaving people out。There's the requisite I-was-too-fat-to-be-loved cliche （though it appears that that didn't stop hundreds of men from having sex with him）。 It gets MehIt begins well enough， with some interesting back story。 But once the action moves to Off-Broadway and the trilogy， the book bogs down in names and names and names and events and events and events， none of which I care about。 You get the suspicion that he wants to include everyone and everything so that no one will blame him for leaving people out。There's the requisite I-was-too-fat-to-be-loved cliche （though it appears that that didn't stop hundreds of men from having sex with him）。 It gets schmaltzy。 I got through the trilogy chapters then gave up。 Who wants to read about supporting roles that， after Mrs Doubtfire， were in increasingly D-list films？ Ever hear of Safe Men？ Didn't think so。 And La Cage aux Folles is a dated piece of homophobic garbage that does little but recycle horrible stereotypes。 It's a "fun" play for straight people。I gave up halfway。 Good thing it was a library book。 。。。more
Philip
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Holly
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wonderful memoir。 I forgot how much he has done， writing-wise。
Dustin Spencer-L'Heureux
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Oh my goodness！ I was excited to get my hands on this memoir。 I was not expecting to love it as much as I did。 I enjoyed getting insider information about how the beloved productions have come together， I enjoyed the way Harvey Fierstein wrote descriptions， it is so distinctively him。 This is a fantastic read。
Ryan
，
An enjoyable memoir focusing on sexual identity， theater and gay rights history， and Harvey’s interesting life。 From art school to Warhol movies， experimental theater to legitimate playwright， from risky sexual exploits to relationships and heartbreak， from sometime supporting actor to Tony-winning artist。 An easy read with various photos that are always fun to peruse after their respective anecdotes。 Not gossipy， and certainly not apologetic， Harvey is a larger than life character！
Howard Fox
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An exceptional man and wonderful writer who created one of the finest plays written in the past 50 years。 Unfortunately like most of Broadway and theatre in general， the past cannot stand on its own but must be distorted and rewritten to fit the agenda of a few so that many fit in and be "accepted"。 It feels by the end of the book Mr。 Fierstein has this infliction as well and his funny， human memoir becomes a lecture。 An exceptional man and wonderful writer who created one of the finest plays written in the past 50 years。 Unfortunately like most of Broadway and theatre in general， the past cannot stand on its own but must be distorted and rewritten to fit the agenda of a few so that many fit in and be "accepted"。 It feels by the end of the book Mr。 Fierstein has this infliction as well and his funny， human memoir becomes a lecture。 。。。more
Koren
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This book is at its best when the author talks about his personal life。 He gets too detailed about the plays and shows that he has written and acted in。 Except for Mrs。 Doubtfire。 That seems strange because， in my opinion， it is his work that I am the most familiar with。 He played Robin William's brother in the movie。 Mrs。 Doubtfire was only two paragraphs in the book。 This guy is hilarious and a proud member of the gay community。 It is interesting that he is a talented playwright and acted in m This book is at its best when the author talks about his personal life。 He gets too detailed about the plays and shows that he has written and acted in。 Except for Mrs。 Doubtfire。 That seems strange because， in my opinion， it is his work that I am the most familiar with。 He played Robin William's brother in the movie。 Mrs。 Doubtfire was only two paragraphs in the book。 This guy is hilarious and a proud member of the gay community。 It is interesting that he is a talented playwright and acted in many of the plays that he wrote。 。。。more
Stuart Brynien
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Theatre icon Harvey Fierstein digs deep into his past in the breezy， heartfelt and always enlightening "I Was Better Last Night。" （The title refers to Fierstein's habitual response to anyone who comes backstage after a show to tell him how wonderful he was: "Oh， I was better last night。"） From his boyhood in the Bensonhurst section of Brooklyn to his beginnings in the borough's theatres， from his headlong dive into the downtown theatre scene to his move uptown to Off-Broadway and， eventually， Br Theatre icon Harvey Fierstein digs deep into his past in the breezy， heartfelt and always enlightening "I Was Better Last Night。" （The title refers to Fierstein's habitual response to anyone who comes backstage after a show to tell him how wonderful he was: "Oh， I was better last night。"） From his boyhood in the Bensonhurst section of Brooklyn to his beginnings in the borough's theatres， from his headlong dive into the downtown theatre scene to his move uptown to Off-Broadway and， eventually， Broadway （and regional theatre and London's West End， as well）， from his one-night stands and long-term relationships to his love for his biggest supporters， his mother Jackie and brother Ron。。。it's all here， and then some。 He brings us behind the scenes of triumphs like "Torch Song Trilogy，" "Hairspray，" "La Cage aux Folles，" and "Casa Valentina，" his collaboration with Cyndi Lauper on "Kinky Boots，" and even his well-received turn as Tevye in multiple productions of "Fiddler on the Roof。" Unafraid to drop names （how can he tell all these fabulous tales otherwise？） he does that， too， sometimes with great relish。 Every chapter is about another show， and every show （or film or TV project） yields a whole new gold mine of very personal， and sometimes very funny， stories。 （We even find out， early in the book， where that unmistakable voice came from。 Lesson learned: before you belt a song--learn how to！） No matter what he claims， Fierstein has never been better。 Read it。 。。。more
Steve
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This is an engaging and well-written inside look at one of this generations most beloved and critically-acclaimed theatre artists。 Bravo， Mr。 Fierstein， for writing with such honesty and insight！ I enjoyed every moment of this book， which I listened to on Audible。
James
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I mostly know who the author is by virtue of seeing him in Mrs。 Doubtfire and Independence Day when I was much younger。。。and knowing that he is gay and had never been closeted。 I've never seen The Torch Song Trilogy and the version of La Cage I know is the American film version。 So I'm not coming to the work as a true fan。The book was a very enjoyable read。 I learned a lot about the theater scene in NYC， historical gay culture outside the very specific lens of the HIV/AIDS epidemic， some Jewish I mostly know who the author is by virtue of seeing him in Mrs。 Doubtfire and Independence Day when I was much younger。。。and knowing that he is gay and had never been closeted。 I've never seen The Torch Song Trilogy and the version of La Cage I know is the American film version。 So I'm not coming to the work as a true fan。The book was a very enjoyable read。 I learned a lot about the theater scene in NYC， historical gay culture outside the very specific lens of the HIV/AIDS epidemic， some Jewish culture， and how Broadway/Off Broadway shows are put together。The author's life was a lot less messy than expected。 I don't know how to describe the expectations that I had， but he came up through some pretty wild times， and he seemed to always be surrounded by really nice people or he's writing at an age where it's easier to be gracious， kind， and nostalgic。 Other theater memoirs have had a similar vibe。 It's possible that theater people are just better people。 I only know one personally and that stands。 His expectations （hopes？） for his life when he was young are really much more like young queer people's today than like his own generation （or mine）。 He is the kind of teacher/role model the kids in the community need to see more of。The advice about surgery was something I wish I had heard a few years ago， because he is totally right about that。I watched his interview with Barbara Walters （he said it was online; it was） and I feel like I'd seen it before？ But I was like literally three years old when he did that interview， so I don't know how that's possible。So there's a big reveal late in the book。 I hate spoilers， and yes， it's possible for memoirs to have spoilers， so all I'll say is that it made me very sad。The writing is great， of course， and as a reader， I appreciated the shorter chapters。 I think it makes things easier to absorb and think about instead of having to deal with long chapter info-dumps。 A lot of the more technical theater stuff can run together， but I appreciate this is valuable information from a legend。 I wish he had talked about his pets more。Overall， highly recommend， especially for theater people and younger LGBTQ folks。Would pair well with Billy Porter's Unprotected。 。。。more
Mediaman
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Out of 365 really long， sleepy pages only 50 or 60 are worth reading。 That means the book is a flop， like going to a 4-hour Broadway musical and finding only one or two tunes worth humming on the way out。There are so many things wrong with this book and so many specifics missing。 I'm sure Fierstein addicts will think it's great just to have anything in print， but it's far from even being a basic memoir。 It's a simplistic overview of his career with little about his personal life and way too much Out of 365 really long， sleepy pages only 50 or 60 are worth reading。 That means the book is a flop， like going to a 4-hour Broadway musical and finding only one or two tunes worth humming on the way out。There are so many things wrong with this book and so many specifics missing。 I'm sure Fierstein addicts will think it's great just to have anything in print， but it's far from even being a basic memoir。 It's a simplistic overview of his career with little about his personal life and way too much about his political agenda。This is a man who seems to not be very self-aware。 Or he has a big wall up that he doesn't want to allow people in。 He saves his coming out story for the end of the book and it is underwhelming。 He tries to spin all self-inflicted problems and diseases on others who were either bigoted in his eyes or didn't try hard enough to help his silent cries。 He makes a lot of snide anti-conservative comments for which he has no real basis beyond his typical gay intolerance。 Again， as with most queer memoirs， the writer does the very things he criticizes others for by judging those he disagrees with and failing to show any empathy for other humans that aren't on his side of an issue。 If you want to march for tolerance and representation then you need to stop being intolerant and bigoted yourself。There are some good stories about his main shows but bottom line is that Fierstein had a few big productions that he was involved with over and over and over again。 This is one of the most repetitive autobiographies ever。 He mentions all the times he plays or produces Torch Song Trilogy， Fiddler on the Roof， Hairspray， and La Cage Aux Folles。 That's a lot because there were many revivals and road shows he was involved with。 He also briefly discusses Kinky Boots and Newsies。 The problem with the book is that too much of it is made up of insignificant details about these and many minor shows， with few true behind-the-scene details of the things we know him best for。Fierstein considers it revealing to state that he objects to a straight actor playing one of the leads in La Cage， which he repeats many times。 Then when Kelsey Grammer steps into one of the starring roles Harvey has to use it to make nasty anti-Republican comments before spinning it positive hoping that Grammer's buddies might have their views changed by seeing him on stage。 It's disappointing to see that the author goes out of his way to attempt to use his art as propaganda。Most disappointing is his inability to share about his private life。 He fails to mention much of anything about his weight gain， his voice changing， how he avoided the AIDS crisis， his significant others and his many lovers （how can he mention bedding numerous priests and not give details？？？）。 By the end of the book I not only didn't feel like I knew him any better， but I actually liked him less than when I started。 Failing to truly open himself up and get beyond his career means this isn't a real memoir， it's just another guy who wants to brag about how successful he was on stage while demeaning those he doesn't agree with politically。 。。。more
Maribeth
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I received this book as a ticket holder for a talk that Harvey did at a local theatre。 The discussion centered around his memoir and his life。 And there's SO much to talk about。 This is a tell all without a lot of sordid details （although there are a few！）， but really， it's an amazing journey。 Throughout， Harvey talks about how saying YES！ to things rather than quibbling or outright saying no really changed the trajectory of his life。 Boy， am I thankful he said yes to so much！ The tales of his e I received this book as a ticket holder for a talk that Harvey did at a local theatre。 The discussion centered around his memoir and his life。 And there's SO much to talk about。 This is a tell all without a lot of sordid details （although there are a few！）， but really， it's an amazing journey。 Throughout， Harvey talks about how saying YES！ to things rather than quibbling or outright saying no really changed the trajectory of his life。 Boy， am I thankful he said yes to so much！ The tales of his early career are fun and exciting， particularly set historically at a time when LGBTQ+ issues were about to hit society in some big ways in the US。 And as an artist who pushed those issues and shone a light on them， his contributions to changing ideas and minds was invaluable。Beyond that， it's just a blast to read about the experiences he's had， and the wild trips he's made to make some long-lasting contributions to the American Stage。 The only reason I gave the book a 4-star rating is because I really wanted more！！ 。。。more
George
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Terrific memoir with lots of juicy， gossipy tidbits。 Having first learned about Harvey in the mid 80's with Torch Song Trilogy， I had no idea about his life beforehand in experimental theater at La Mama and his involvement with Andy Warhol。 And the stories about his years on Broadway and writing for movies and TV， as well as his struggles with alcohol， were really enlightening。 I am surprised that in all of this book， he never discussed Hairspray， The Movie。 Lots of talk about the Broadway run a Terrific memoir with lots of juicy， gossipy tidbits。 Having first learned about Harvey in the mid 80's with Torch Song Trilogy， I had no idea about his life beforehand in experimental theater at La Mama and his involvement with Andy Warhol。 And the stories about his years on Broadway and writing for movies and TV， as well as his struggles with alcohol， were really enlightening。 I am surprised that in all of this book， he never discussed Hairspray， The Movie。 Lots of talk about the Broadway run and the live TV production， even touring， but not a mention of the movie。 A sore spot perhaps？ Anyway， highly recommend！ Lovely book！ 。。。more
Rodrigo
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more a 3。5 but I enjoyed it enough that I'd round up。 I mean if you know and enjoy Harvey Fierstein then you know exactly what you're getting into and this book absolutely delivers。 Nothing revelatory here but it doesn't particularly try to be。 There were some periods of his life that were more exciting to read about than others and every once in a while he sort of seems to go on a rant that comes off a tad bit petty。 But overall it was a lot of fun to read especially as I was pretty familiar wi more a 3。5 but I enjoyed it enough that I'd round up。 I mean if you know and enjoy Harvey Fierstein then you know exactly what you're getting into and this book absolutely delivers。 Nothing revelatory here but it doesn't particularly try to be。 There were some periods of his life that were more exciting to read about than others and every once in a while he sort of seems to go on a rant that comes off a tad bit petty。 But overall it was a lot of fun to read especially as I was pretty familiar with most of the shows he covers。 It's a perfectly nice look back at Fierstein's resume， show by show with anecdotes and commentary sprinkled in。。。which is exactly what I was looking for :） 。。。more
Ashley McDaniel
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Loved it！ Listened to the audio book and it was a delight！ I had no idea about many of his accomplishments etc。
Lisa
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I rarely read celebrity memoirs as they tend to be very disappointing。 But I've enjoyed Harvey's work since the movie version of TST was released and anticipated this to be better written than most。 I think this is an above average memoir， especially for storytelling style and skill。 I found the first half the most interesting since I didn't know much about his early years。 and， as expected， his humor kept me laughing。 I rarely read celebrity memoirs as they tend to be very disappointing。 But I've enjoyed Harvey's work since the movie version of TST was released and anticipated this to be better written than most。 I think this is an above average memoir， especially for storytelling style and skill。 I found the first half the most interesting since I didn't know much about his early years。 and， as expected， his humor kept me laughing。 。。。more
Jack Nix
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I chose to listen to the audiobook version， and I'm so glad I did！ Fierstein delivers all the stories you want to hear about （backstage dish on Torch Song Trilogy， La Cage aux Folles， Hairspray， etc）， but also paints an electrifying picture of the art scene of 1970s/80s New York City。 He is very open about his relationships with family， addiction， and being a gay man that made a living with fake boobs strapped to his chest。 You leave the book knowing Harvey's soul。 Highly recommend for fans， and I chose to listen to the audiobook version， and I'm so glad I did！ Fierstein delivers all the stories you want to hear about （backstage dish on Torch Song Trilogy， La Cage aux Folles， Hairspray， etc）， but also paints an electrifying picture of the art scene of 1970s/80s New York City。 He is very open about his relationships with family， addiction， and being a gay man that made a living with fake boobs strapped to his chest。 You leave the book knowing Harvey's soul。 Highly recommend for fans， and theater lovers everywhere。 。。。more
Lisa Burris
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Fierstein is a theatre legend， having won multiple Tony awards for writing or starring in some of modern theatre's classics like Torch Song Trilogy， Kinky Boots， and Hairspray。 His memoir is no less entertaining， funny， and moving as any of his stage work。 Easily destined to be one of the best books of the year， I Was Better Last Night offers a rare glimpse into not only Fierstein's life， but also the creative processes required to put together a Broadway show。 Fierstein's work is so vivid and c Fierstein is a theatre legend， having won multiple Tony awards for writing or starring in some of modern theatre's classics like Torch Song Trilogy， Kinky Boots， and Hairspray。 His memoir is no less entertaining， funny， and moving as any of his stage work。 Easily destined to be one of the best books of the year， I Was Better Last Night offers a rare glimpse into not only Fierstein's life， but also the creative processes required to put together a Broadway show。 Fierstein's work is so vivid and candid that the reader can almost smell the streets of 1970s Manhattan and see the sometimes dingy and always dark off-off Broadway theaters。 Fierstein's book is a must-read for any theatre fan， but will also be attractive to theatre actors and playwrights who are eager to learn about theatre history and to gain insight into the thought processes of a Tony-award winning book writer。 。。。more
AndreaT
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Harvey Fierstein’s memoir is a really interesting and thrilling read！ He details his life from childhood to present。 The stories are priceless and he takes you on emotional highs and lows。 This is an essential read for theatre kids，
J。
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Come because you know Harvey the actor， but stay to get to know what a clever， poignant writer he is。 Powerful as a gut punch， funny as stand up comedy， and so much heart。 Get this book immediately。
Wendy Cosin
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I was enjoying the audio of Harvey Fierstein's gravelly-voiced memoir， but put it aside because I wanted to move on to other things。 It was amusing， and I may go back in the future。 I got about one-third of the way through to his first productions of Torch Song Trilogy， but he was still a poor struggling artist。 I am interested in how he will write about his eventual success。I didn't rate it because I may still finish it in the future。 I was enjoying the audio of Harvey Fierstein's gravelly-voiced memoir， but put it aside because I wanted to move on to other things。 It was amusing， and I may go back in the future。 I got about one-third of the way through to his first productions of Torch Song Trilogy， but he was still a poor struggling artist。 I am interested in how he will write about his eventual success。I didn't rate it because I may still finish it in the future。 。。。more
Libby
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What a treat， to read this memoir。 Harvey Fierstein has such an interesting life in the theater， and such a compelling interior life， as a funny， smart， wildly talented， beloved， loving， self-deprecating， Jewish， New Yorker， gay， activist， icon in his 60s。 From his Brooklyn childhood to his early New York theater years， his Broadway triumphs and Hollywood， his life is rich。 I'm so glad he wrote it all down for us。 I look forward to another memoir from Harvey when he is in his 80s。 What a treat， to read this memoir。 Harvey Fierstein has such an interesting life in the theater， and such a compelling interior life， as a funny， smart， wildly talented， beloved， loving， self-deprecating， Jewish， New Yorker， gay， activist， icon in his 60s。 From his Brooklyn childhood to his early New York theater years， his Broadway triumphs and Hollywood， his life is rich。 I'm so glad he wrote it all down for us。 I look forward to another memoir from Harvey when he is in his 80s。 。。。more
barbara a perry
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