Netflix's recently released documentary It Takes a Lunatic gives us an inside look at the life and work of Wynn Handman, a pioneer artist and legend in the theater community. It tells the story of how Wynn came up in the industry of entertainment pedagogy and started out in his studio on 54th Street in Manhattan. Directed by former student Bill Lyons, who has also been Wynn's assistant for many years, it borrows from sound clips and conversations with some of Wynn's most prolific students. On balance, the documentary does a good job of introducing a man who is modest and self-effacing in manner but in his deeds came to define much of American Theatre in the second half of the 20th century and beyond. The documentary is told with clear affection for its subject and is something of a celebration of his life and work. This is both its biggest strength and weakness. There is real warmth on display here and that brings to life the life and work of someone much less celebrated than many of his students. When it works well, it manages to highlight how an early experience comes to shape Wynn’s style or later career and the juxtaposition of the two storylines gives you a richer and deeper understanding of the man. At other times the leaps forwards and back can be a little jarring and disrupt the momentum of the documentary. It is an engaging and warm celebration of his work. It is, however, much too long, a bit harshly edited and very self-indulgent.

If you are a theatre junkie, this is a can’t-miss!

– Compilation