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On Stage America: A Selection of Distinctly American Plays
This On Stage, America by Walter J. Meserve is a selection of a dozen distinguish American Plays. These dozen American plays are among the finest and most popular from Revolutionary times to World War 1. All twelve plays were written by Americans, and dramatizing the development of the country through characters, settings, ideas and language. They illuminate the events and attitudes which have shaped American society.
563 pages, Paperback
First published August 1, 1996
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January 22, 2012
Since there isn't much written on this book, I will give some information here:
From the back of the book:
"Fancies and follies may change with the times, but the best plays of a nation can being a unique understanding of the culture and concerns of its people. These dozen American plays - among the finest and most popular from Revolutionary times to World War I - clearly illustrate the entertainment that America's theatre-going public most enjoyed. Written by Americans, and dramatizing the developing country through character, setting, idea and language, they illuminate the events and attitudes which have shaped American society. From satirical comedy to lively farce, from sensational melodrama to serious realism, here is 'America - On Stage'"
The 12 plays:
The Contract (1787) by Royall Tyler
Metamora (1829) by John Augustus Stone
The Stage-Stuck Yankee (1840) by Oliver E. Durivage
Fashion (1845) by Anna Cora Mowatt
Glace at New York (1848) by Benjamin A. Baker
Rip Van Winkle (1865)as acted by Joseph Jefferson III
Under the Gaslight (1867) by Augustin Daly
Young Mrs. Winthorp (1882) by Bronson Howard
The Old Homestead (1886) by Denman Thompson
Margaret Fleming (1890) James A. Herne
A Trip to Chinatown (1891) by Charles H. Hoyt
The Girl of the Golden West (1905) by David Belasco
I read this book specifically for the play "Glance at New York" By Benjamin A. Baker. It is a comedic play based on the lives of people living in the Bowery. I was tasked with writing a research paper for a pre-Civil War American Literature class and the play made a perfect fictional balance to the non-fiction "Five Points" by Tyler Anbinder. I highly recommend these groups of plays for anyone interested in Americana.
From the back of the book:
"Fancies and follies may change with the times, but the best plays of a nation can being a unique understanding of the culture and concerns of its people. These dozen American plays - among the finest and most popular from Revolutionary times to World War I - clearly illustrate the entertainment that America's theatre-going public most enjoyed. Written by Americans, and dramatizing the developing country through character, setting, idea and language, they illuminate the events and attitudes which have shaped American society. From satirical comedy to lively farce, from sensational melodrama to serious realism, here is 'America - On Stage'"
The 12 plays:
The Contract (1787) by Royall Tyler
Metamora (1829) by John Augustus Stone
The Stage-Stuck Yankee (1840) by Oliver E. Durivage
Fashion (1845) by Anna Cora Mowatt
Glace at New York (1848) by Benjamin A. Baker
Rip Van Winkle (1865)as acted by Joseph Jefferson III
Under the Gaslight (1867) by Augustin Daly
Young Mrs. Winthorp (1882) by Bronson Howard
The Old Homestead (1886) by Denman Thompson
Margaret Fleming (1890) James A. Herne
A Trip to Chinatown (1891) by Charles H. Hoyt
The Girl of the Golden West (1905) by David Belasco
I read this book specifically for the play "Glance at New York" By Benjamin A. Baker. It is a comedic play based on the lives of people living in the Bowery. I was tasked with writing a research paper for a pre-Civil War American Literature class and the play made a perfect fictional balance to the non-fiction "Five Points" by Tyler Anbinder. I highly recommend these groups of plays for anyone interested in Americana.
Displaying 1 of 1 review