Greek Tragedy on the American Stage: Ancient Drama in the Commercial Theater, 1882-1994

by Karelisa Hartigan

Overview

During the past century, the interpretation given by the various directors staging Greek drama has varied, and the critical reception accorded the productions has also altered. While the texts of Aeschylus, Sophocles, and Euripides remain constant, the meanings drawn from their plays do not. The director who decides to offer a Greek tragedy in the modern American commercial theater believes in the ability of the text to reach the contemporary audience, and the reviewers assess the success of the venture: their words become a record of both a particular performance and the time in which it played. Hartigan explores how drama and society interact and witnesses the continued vitality of the Greek tragedy.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780313292835
Publisher:	Bloomsbury Academic
Publication date:	05/09/1995
Series:	Contributions in Drama and Theatre Studies , #60
Pages:	192
Product dimensions:	6.14(w) x 9.21(h) x 0.50(d)
Lexile:	1370L (what's this?)

About the Author

KARELISA V. HARTIGAN is Professor of Classics at the University of Florida. She is the author of several books including Ambiguity and Self-Deception: The Apollo and Artemis Plays of Euripides.

Table of Contents

Preface
Introduction
The Earliest Plays
Greek Tragedy Gains Recognition: 1900-1915
Greek Tragedy Comes of Age: 1915-1935
Greek Tragedy Achieves Status: 1935-1950
Greek Tragedy Responds to War, Drugs and Flower Children: 1960-1970
Greek Tragedy Echoes a Period of Self-Reflection: 1970-1980
Greek Tragedy and Reevaluation: 1980-1994
Occasional Productions: Greek Tragedies Rarely Brought to the Boards
Conclusion
Selected Bibliography

Editorial Reviews

An examination of the critical reception of Greek tragedy staged in the US, arranged in chronological units that correspond approximately to periods of American social history, spanning roughly from the famous 1882 production of Oedipus Tyrannus in New York to that of Medea in 1994. Two themes explored in depth are the types of debate engendered by stagings of the "classics" and the way the political milieu influences the plays chosen for performance. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

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