That's an excellent quote, I did laugh. I'm not so sure what to make of the broader generalisations about the English character and its impact on theatre, but perhaps the book should just be taken as a mosaic of voices on theatre and enjoyed for that variety - the pleasure of a medley of interviews is that you get to find what speaks to you, what doesn't, and those moments where you go YES! YESS!
What's the copyright date on this one? I could swear I read a book in high school (advanced drama class) in this format, and I know a Peter Brook interview was in it. And it had a similar cover design.