Based on John Gays eighteenth century Beggars Opera; The Threepenny Opera; first staged in 1928 at the Theater am Schiffbauerdamm in Berlin; is a vicious satire on the bourgeois capitalist society of the Weimar Republic; but set in a mock-Victorian Soho. It focuses on the feud between Macheaf - an amoral criminal - and his father in law; a racketeer who controls and exploits Londons beggars and is intent on having Macheaf hanged. Despite the resistance by Macheafs friend the Chief of Police; Macheaf is eventually condemned to hang until in a comic reversal the queen pardons him and grants him a title and land. With Kurt Weills unforgettable music - one of the earliest and most successful attempts to introduce jazz to the theatre - it became a popular hit throughout the western world.Published in Methuen Dramas Modern Classics series in a trusted translation by Ralph Manheim and John Willett; this edition features extensive notes and commentary including an introduction to the play; Brechts own notes on the play; a full appendix of textual variants; a note by composer Kurt Weill; a transcript of a discussion about the play between Brecht and a theatre director; plus editorial notes on the genesis of the play.
#1504818 in eBooks 2015-02-26 2015-02-26File Name: B00S970OTI
Review
7 of 7 people found the following review helpful. Excellent for more than just ArchitectsBy Randolph LangenbachWhile most technical books on earthquake-resistant building design are laden with formulas and arcane language useful only to structural engineers; it is good to find with Professor Charlesons book one that clearly states the concepts that lead to good design practices that contribute to building safety in earthquake areas. In fact; many engineers in different countries would benefit from this book - both for the purpose of helping them explain concepts better to their clients and their consulting architects; and to better understand the design principles specific to earthquake resistance themselves. I would also recommend this book not only to architects; but to many government officials who would benefit from a better understanding of earthquake resistant design.Andrew Charleson is from New Zealand; a country that has contributed many innovations in this field. He has also traveled and taught in other countries. His book; better than many from the United States; addresses the kinds of construction; including masonry infilled reinforced concrete frame construction; that are more commonly found in earthquake hazard regions in other parts of the world remote from North America; including India; Pakistan; the Middle East; North Africa and Europe. Prof. Charleson has also referenced some of the icons of the Modern movement; such as Le Corbusiers Villa Savoye; by analyzing them as if it were in an earthquake area; to illustrate the kind of thinking that needs to be embraced early on in the creative design process. My complements also for the simple; consistent; yet effective computer generated graphics; and the choice of photographs from a variety of earthquake damage districts to illustrate the concepts. I highly recommend this book.
