Tragedy in the Contemporary American Theatre

Robert J. Andreach

This book refutes the claim that tragedy is no longer a vital and relevant part of contemporary American theatre. Tragedy in the Contemporary American Theatre examines plays by multiple contemporary playwrights and compares them alongside the works of America’s major twentieth-century tragedians: Eugene O’Neill, Arthur Miller, and Tennessee Williams. The book argues that tragedy is not only present in contemporary American theatre, but issues from an expectation fundamental to American culture: the pressure on characters to create themselves. Tragedy in the Contemporary American Theatre concludes that tragedy is vital and relevant, though not always in the Aristotelian model, the standard for traditional evaluation.

University Press of America

Pages: 208 • Trim: 6 x 9

978-0-7618-6400-4 • Paperback • July 2014 • $48.99 • (£38.00)

978-0-7618-6401-1 • eBook • July 2014 • $46.50 • (£36.00)

Subjects: Performing Arts / Theater / History & Criticism, Performing Arts / Theater / Direction & Production, Drama / American / General, Literary Criticism / American / General, Performing Arts / Theater / Stagecraft, Performing Arts / Theater / Playwriting, Performing Arts / Actors and Actresses, Performing Arts / Drama, Performing Arts / Theater/ Biography

Tragedy in the Contemporary American Theatre

Paperback

eBook

Summary

This book refutes the claim that tragedy is no longer a vital and relevant part of contemporary American theatre. Tragedy in the Contemporary American Theatre examines plays by multiple contemporary playwrights and compares them alongside the works of America’s major twentieth-century tragedians: Eugene O’Neill, Arthur Miller, and Tennessee Williams. The book argues that tragedy is not only present in contemporary American theatre, but issues from an expectation fundamental to American culture: the pressure on characters to create themselves. Tragedy in the Contemporary American Theatre concludes that tragedy is vital and relevant, though not always in the Aristotelian model, the standard for traditional evaluation.

Details

University Press of America

Pages: 208 • Trim: 6 x 9

978-0-7618-6400-4 • Paperback • July 2014 • $48.99 • (£38.00)

978-0-7618-6401-1 • eBook • July 2014 • $46.50 • (£36.00)

Subjects: Performing Arts / Theater / History & Criticism, Performing Arts / Theater / Direction & Production, Drama / American / General, Literary Criticism / American / General, Performing Arts / Theater / Stagecraft, Performing Arts / Theater / Playwriting, Performing Arts / Actors and Actresses, Performing Arts / Drama, Performing Arts / Theater/ Biography

Author

Robert J. Andreach is a former university professor. He is the author of several books, most recently John Guare’s Theatre, Len Jenkin’s Theatre, and The Contemporary American Dramatic Trilogy.

Table of Contents

Introduction: Questioning Tragedy’s Vitality and Relevance
Chapter One: Isolation and Loss of Life
Chapter Two: Loss of Hope and Suffering
Chapter Three: Eugene O’Neill
Chapter Four: Arthur Miller
Chapter Five: Tennessee Williams
Chapter Six: More Contemporary Tragedy
Conclusion: Questing for Tragedy’s Vitality and Relevance
Notes
Index

Tragedy in the Contemporary American Theatre

Robert J. Andreach

Tragedy in the Contemporary American Theatre

ALSO AVAILABLE