A Critical Introduction to Twentieth-Century American Drama: Volume 3, Beyond Broadway: Beyond Broadway v. 3 - Softcover

Bigsby, C. W. E.

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0521278961 ISBN 13: 9780521278966

Publisher: Cambridge University Press, 1985

Synopsis

In this, the third and final volume of his critical account of American drama in the twentieth century, Christopher Bigsby turns from the text-oriented drama of Williams, Miller and Albee (volume 2) in order to trace other, parallel theatrical developments of the post-war period, including contemporary groups and playwrights. Beyond Broadway denotes the geographical and spiritual challenges to prevailing standards which so fragmented the theatre of the 1960s in particular. Following his analysis of the Off-Broadway and Off-Off Broadway playwrights and theatres, Dr Bigsby separates the period into four main areas: performance theatre (including the Living Theatre and the Performance Group); the conjunction of dance, music and painting with drama in the 'theatre of images'; two successful contemporary playwrights, Sam Shepard and David Mamet; and finally the committed theatre exemplified in the San Francisco Mime Troupe and Chicano, black and women's theatre.

About this title

Review:

'Bigsby's style is lean but dense, pursuing ideas with imagination and fine scholarship. The book is plentiful in detail, rich in insight, and reliable in judgement.' Library Journal

'One of the greatest attractions of Bigsby's train of thought is his constant comparison between a sense of absurdity, early and late modernism, O'Neill and Albee. This is why Volume One of his Introduction is such exciting reading.' Journal of American Studies

Book Description:

This final volume of A Critical Introduction to Twentieth-Century American Drama deals with postwar theatrical developments, including performance theatre, the 'theatre of images', the work of Sam Shepard and David Mamet, and the committed theatre exemplified in the San Francisco Mime Troupe and Chicano, black and women's theatre.

About this edition

• Publisher: Cambridge University Press
• Publication date: 1985
• ISBN 10: 0521278961
• ISBN 13: 9780521278966
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 496