British Theatre in the Great War deals with a theatrical phase customarily dismissed by those charting twentieth-century developments. What becomes clear is that assessment by unsuitable literary criteria has masked the importance of the war years in British theatrical history. In avoiding a texts bias; the book reveals a period of unsurpassed prosperity in which the stages substantial contribution to the war effort is only one notable feature. That it also saw the commercial theaters absorption of Continental avant-gardeism by way of revue; the last great epoch of music hall; the rise of the Old Vic with a project in opera and Shakespeare; and the unprecedented popularity of opera everywhere--this was surely the most fruitful period of Thomas Beechams theatrical career--is compelling argument for revaluation. In his reassessment of this period; Dr. Williams extensively examines scripts and press coverage; providing a comprehensive overview from popular pantomime to the specialist work of the private stage as well as discussion of such issues as working conditions and censorship.
2015-11-17 2015-11-17File Name: B0184YEUEU
Review
