Brian Friel is Irelands foremost living playwright; whose work spans fifty years and has won numerous awards; including three Tonys and a Lifetime Achievement Arts Award. Author of twenty-five plays; and whose work is studied at GCSE and A level (UK); and the Leaving Certificate (Ire); besides at undergraduate level; he is regarded as a classic in contemporary drama studies. Christopher Murray offers the definitive guide to Friels work; both a detailed study of individual plays and an exploration of Friels dual commitment to tradition and modernity across his oeuvre.Beginning with Friels 1964 work Philadelphia; Here I Come! it follows a broadly chronological route through the principle plays; including Aristocrats; Faith Healer; Translations; Dancing at Lughnasa; Molly Sweeney and The Home Place. Along the way it considers themes of exile; politics; fathers and sons; belief and ritual; history; memory; gender inequality; and loss; all set against the dialectic of tradition and modernity.
#4526648 in eBooks 1995-06-15 2014-01-29File Name: B00I480FI2
Review
0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. Lots of information presented in a great formatBy Rebecca BeaucourtI absolutely love all things Broadway; so I ordered this and waited excitedly for it to come in. When it came; I sat and read through it for about two hours. There is a ton of information that is presented in an easy-to-read fashion. There are great photos and little known facts that make this totally worth the money!20 of 20 people found the following review helpful. THE Essential Resource on Musical Theatre HistoryBy John Kenrick (jbk@corcoran.com)This book is a must-have for people who work in; study; or love the musical theatre. When did a particular musical open? Who wrote it; and what else did he/she work on? What was the chronology of a performer or directors stage career? Were there revivals; London productions; tours? Who starred in a given production? While there are many books that can help find such information; no other book does it as efficiently. As a Broadway producers assistant and as a life-long theatre buff; I have found this one-volume Encyclopedia a vital source of information. While all of Stanley Greens books are informative and entertaining; this is the one I turn to when I need the facts or figures fast. If musical theatre trivia is your bag; this is one of the motherlodes --I recommend it highly!2 of 2 people found the following review helpful. Easily pleasedBy Joshua A. CetinSo; the encyclopedia is great for music theatre knowledge. It gives great; to the point and concise answers to people; shows and songs of the theatre. I also enjoyed the comparisons between what happened on West End and what changed or continued in the Broadway seasons. The only issue I had was that it was written in 1975 and has not been updated so any show or song written after that recieved no mention but its great for anything before that
