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The Playwright’s Role: Production • Once script is written, playwright takes a backseat to director, designers, actors, producers. • Exceptions: – Playwrights who direct (e.g., David Mamet) – Playwrights who act/produce (e.g.,Shakespeare) • Playwright may contribute to production through script revisions. Core Concepts • When theatrical process starts – assuming it starts with a script, – The playwright is most essential artist in a production • Playwright builds the world of the play: – Events – Characters – Meaning More of the Modern Masters Henrik Ibsen(1828-1906) • Norwegian playwright, poet • the father of modern drama • dramas of protest against social conditions, the conditions of life and issues of morality • domestic dramas • realistic plays → naturalistic plays → symbolic plays Henrik Ibsen: Notable Works and contributions to the modern theater • Ibsen was a very important influence in opening up the discussion of the position of women in society • Nora in A Doll’s House (1879) started a discussion about the position of women in Victorian marriage; • Mrs Alving in Ghosts (1881)drew attention to the double standards of morality for men and women; and • Hedda Gabler (1890) ultimately constitutes a plea to allow women to develop their creativeness. Ibsen’s contribution to modern drama • Ibsen has been called ‘the father of modern drama’ because he was the first to use the stage to debate contemporary social dilemmas, as in his best known play, about a claustrophobic marriage, A Doll’s House. • Ibsen’s plays offers ‘Lessons’ on the hypocrisy and dual standards of society 5 Ibsen’s contribution to modern drama • The Theatre of Ideas: ‘Ibsenites’ – young enthusiastic intellectuals for the new plays inspired by Ibsen – seized on the idea of theatre as a political force. • Social comment, drawing audiences with realistic controversial drama concerning ordinary people 6 Anton Chekhov(1860-1904) • Russian playwright • Four-act realistic plays • The Cherry Orchard • Three Sisters • Uncle Vanya • The Seagull Chekhovian drama • Chekhov uses the drama, with the author functioning only as an impartial witness. • Chekhov will introduce political, social, and philosophical discussions into his work, because these are threads in the fabric of reality. But he is careful neither to take sides nor to hint at solutions. 8 Oscar Wilde(1854-1900) • Irish-born playwright, poet • a spokesman for the late 19thcentury Aesthetic movement (Aestheticism) in England, which advocated art for art’s sake • the object of celebrated civil and criminal suits involving homosexuality and ending in his imprisonment (1895–97). Oscar Wilde The life of Oscar Wilde was as theatrical as his plays, and his downfall and death more melodramatic than the stage of the Victorians who first celebrated him and then condemned him. Oscar Wilde’s Works his only novel: • The Picture of Dorian Gray (1891) comic masterpieces: • Lady Windermere’s Fan (1892) • An Ideal Husband (1895) • The Importance of Being Earnest (1895) 10 art-for-art’s-sake • a slogan translated from the French l’art pour l’art, which was coined in the early 19th century by the French philosopher Victor Cousin. • The phrase expresses the belief held by many writers and artists, especially those associated with Aestheticism, that art needs no justification, that it need serve no political, didactic, or other end. (Britannica Online Encyclopedia) Lillian Hellman • Famous American playwright. • Born in New Orleans, Louisiana in 1905. • She spent most of her childhood there as well as in New York. • In the 20’s she married the writer Arthur Kober and moved with him to Hollywood. • In the early 30’s she met mystery and crime writer Dashiell Hammett and by 1932 she was divorced but had a close relationship with Hammett until his death in 1961. • Her first critical success came at the age of 28 with the play The Children’s Hours about two teachers falsely accused of having a lesbian affair. Despite the controversy surrounding the play’s subject, The Children’s Hours launched her career after a successful and massively popular debut on Broadway. As a playwright and an author, Hellman was never afraid to put her own political and social beliefs into her writing. She often addressed such subject matter as capitalism, fascism, revenge, and greed. • Her plays, Watch on the Rhine and The Searching Wind, were critical of the American Government’s role in fighting fascism at the outset of World War II. • Hellman’s membership in the Communist Party and her outspoken political opinions resulted in a subpoena from the United States Congress to appear in front of the House Un-American Activities Committee (HUAC) led by Sen. Joe McCarthy. • Hellman was willing to provide the committee with details about her own political life but refused to incriminate any of her friends or co-workers. Her courageous testimony set an inspirational precedent. • At the age of 60, Hellman switched from writing plays to publishing three popular memoirs. • After a lifetime of writing and teaching, Hellman passed away at the age of 79.