THE LIVING THEATRE

by Elmer Rice ‧ RELEASE DATE: N/A

Elmer Rice, now the dean of living American playwrights, was invited to give a series of lectures at the graduate school of New York University during 1957 and this book is a result of that course and the material used. With his first professionally produced play appearing in 1914, his has been a long career and his backward look sees much. Although he is a fast man with a generality on subjects -- such as the early days and growth of the American theatre- which he did not actually live through, his lucidity and insight -- in those areas where he has had first hand experience -- are impossible of improvement. His reporting on the Federal Theatre Project, with which he was intimately connected, and his blow-by-blow account of the first production of Street Scene -- now universally acclaimed- are real gems of theatre history. His opinions on what is wrong with the American theatre (as opposed to drama) and on what might be done about it stem also from his own experiences and are among the most sensible and moderate of such expressions currently in circulation. In general, this is a valuable and well-written book for the whole subject of 20th century theatre in America.

Pub Date: N/A

ISBN: N/A

Page Count: -

Publisher: Harper

Review Posted Online: N/A

Kirkus Reviews Issue: June 15, 1959

Categories: NONFICTION