Reading Stephen Sondheim: A Collection of Critical Essays

by Sandor Goodhart (Editor)

Overview

Stephen Sondheim is arguably the most important writer for the American musical stage today, the equivalent in his field of Miller, Albee, O'Neill, and Williams. Yet he has rarely been treated seriously within the academy. Reading Stephen Sondheim: A Collection of Critical Essays is an attempt to remedy that situation. Bringing together scholars and critics from a wide variety of literary and theoretical perspectives, this book undertakes to examine all of Sondheim's major productions and themes.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780815328322
Publisher:	Taylor & Francis
Publication date:	11/01/1999
Series:	Studies in Modern Drama , #10
Pages:	304
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 9.00(h) x (d)

Table of Contents

1. Environmental Policy in Transition 2. Quid Pro Quo and the Birth of Project XL 3. Conflicting Goals 4. Complicating Factors 5. Drafting the 3M Proposal 6. Gaining EPA Support for the Agreement 7. Trying to Overcome Deadlock: The Practical Impediments 8. Intel, Merck, and Weyerhaeuser: Three XL Projects that Gained Approval 9. Comparing the Approved Projects with 3M's Proposal 10. Roadblocks to Cooperative Solutions 11. Creating a Platform for Experiments Appendix A: The Comparable Actions Test Appendix B: Next Steps at 3M-Hutchinson Appendix C: A More Unambiguous Definition of Superior Environmental Performance? References Acknowledgements Index About the Authors

Editorial Reviews

Scholars and critics discuss and analyze Sondheim's major productions and themes using various critical methodologies, including deconstruction, Marxism, formalism, psychoanalysis, and historicism. They discuss Sondheim's major themes, such as marriage, romantic passion, and madness, and overview all of his plays against the background of modern British and American drama. They discuss his place in theater history and his literary and cinematic sources, and offer critical analyses of six plays. Goodhart is associate professor of English and the director of the Jewish studies program at Purdue University. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

Booknews

"The authors do employ an impressive array of methodologies to analyze and interpret Sondheim's oeuvre." — Judith Sebesta, University of Arizona

From the Publisher