In Shakespeares Medieval Craft; Kurt A. Schreyer explores the relationship between Shakespearersquo;s plays and a tradition of late medieval English biblical drama known as mystery plays. Scholars of English theater have long debated Shakespearersquo;s connection to the mystery play tradition; but Schreyer provides new perspective on the subject by focusing on the Chester Banns; a sixteenth-century proclamation announcing the annual performance of that cityrsquo;s cycle of mystery plays. Through close study of the Banns; Schreyer demonstrates the central importance of medieval stage objectsmdash;as vital and direct agents and not merely as precursorsmdash;to the Shakespearean stage. As Schreyer shows; the Chester Banns serve as a paradigm for how Shakespearersquo;s theater might have reflected on and incorporated the mystery play tradition; yet distinguished itself from it. For instance; he demonstrates that certain material features of Shakespearersquo;s stagemdash;including the assrsquo;s head of A Midsummer Nightrsquo;s Dream; the theatrical space of Purgatory in Hamlet; and the knocking at the gate in the Porter scene of Macbethmdash;were in fact remnants of the earlier mysteries transformed to meet the exigencies of the commercial London playhouses. Schreyer argues that the ongoing agency of supposedly superseded theatrical objects and practices reveal how the mystery plays shaped dramatic production long after their demise. At the same time; these medieval traditions help to reposition Shakespeare as more than a writer of plays; he was a play-wright; a dramatic artisan who forged new theatrical works by fitting poetry to the material remnants of an older dramatic tradition.
#4236266 in eBooks 2014-07-30 2014-07-30File Name: B00M9AR5W0
Review
21 of 21 people found the following review helpful. Ken Emersons Brill-iant book about the music and magic On BroadwayBy Laura PintoAlways Magic in the Air: The Bomp and Brilliance of the Brill Building Era is an entertaining; comprehensive; and riveting study of seven legendary songwriting teams - Doc Pomus/Mort Shuman; Jerry Leiber/Mike Stoller; Burt Bacharach/Hal David; Neil Sedaka/Howard Greenfield; Barry Mann/Cynthia Weil; Gerry Goffin/Carole King; and Jeff Barry/Ellie Greenwich. The time was the 1950s and 1960s - the Golden Era of rock and roll - and the place was New York City. The players were young; talented; and Jewish. They came from varying social and economic backgrounds. They brought with them their energy; enthusiasm; and artistry; and they left their collective footprints in musical history - and in our minds and hearts. More than just a biography of fourteen people; however; Always Magic... is an all-inclusive study of the sounds born in two relatively unimposing buildings in Manhattan - the Brill Building; located at 1619 Broadway; and its near neighbor at 1650 Broadway. The roots of rock and roll in general are discussed; as are the Latin influences behind some of the songs brought forth by these talented scribes (one example is the *baion* drumbeat intro to "Be My Baby"); and the individual and collective backgrounds and lives of the principals; several of whom were interviewed for this book; are covered in depth. Their personal histories are fascinating to read about. In the case of the composers no longer with us - Doc Pomus; Mort Shuman; and Howard Greenfield - author Ken Emerson drew on a wealth of biographical and historical information as well as contributions from friends; relatives; and other reliable sources. Emerson also utilized material from previously published and/or broadcast articles; interviews and documentaries in all cases. The result is a thorough and generously annotated book; well researched with a comprehensive bibliography; a must-have for rock historians who will want to add this delightful and informative book to their collections; and for those who are simply fans of what has become known as the Brill Building sound.Always Magic... is an absolute pleasure to read - fun and interesting; a study of people as well as music (and of music as well as people); it never lets up. From "Hound Dog" to "Save the Last Dance For Me;" from "Breaking Up is Hard to Do" to "What the World Needs Now;" from "Will You Love Me Tomorrow" to "Chapel of Love" to "Youve Lost That Lovin Feeling;" the sounds of the Brill Building era are as much a part of our lives as the air that we breathe; and Ken Emersons rockumentary is a breath of fresh air - always magical; from start to finish.16 of 16 people found the following review helpful. When Oldies Were NewiesBy Bill EmblomAuthor Ken Emerson has given us a well-researched book on seven song writing teams during the late 1950s and early 1960s. It is a marvelous companion volume to the DVD set entitled The Songmakers; part of which is devoted to these songwriters in the portion called "The Hitmakers--The Teens Who Stole Pop Music". The fact that musical history was being created during this time period was lost on the talented writers and singers as they provided the teen buying public who had the buck to purchase the 45 RPM record. Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller brought their considerable talents from California to New York in 1957 while Brooklyn in particular seemed to be a hotbed for those writers and singers who did their work in the Brill Building or at 1650 Broadway. All was not a bed of roses for these talented individuals; however. Stress in their private lives led to marital breakups as well as other problems. The DVD set has the advantage of letting you listen to these talented song writers talk about their experiences; and listen to snippets of songs they made popular; while this book has the advantage of going into more detail along with anecdotes about these individuals and how some experience would trigger an idea for a song. When the 1960s generation reaches nursing home status instead of listening to "You Are My Sunshine" and "Shine on Harvest Moon" they will be singing to "Leader of the Pack"; "Hes A Rebel"; and other such songs. Jeff and Ellie; Carole and Gerry; Barry and Cynthia; Jerry and Mike; Neil and Howard; Doc and Mort; and Burt and Hal: There is more to history than wars; treaties; and presidents; and the American public is deeply indebted to you for adding so much to our cultural history.0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. because of the writers love of his topic and the music involvedBy Paul LarsenAn exceptional book;due to its research and level of writing.....and;also;not the least;because of the writers love of his topic and the music involved.Im reading Carole Kings memoir and the biography of Bert Berns simultaneously with this and feel Im walking the streets of those times.All three of these books are well worth the time of anyone who grew up when these artists and songs were the soundtrack to their lives and/or loves the music in and of itself.I cant sing this books praises enough.Ken Emerson weaves a wonderful tapestry;seriously;constantly relating back to what hed written in previous chapters and presenting a picture that could be no fuller let alone equaled.
