This timely collection addresses the neglected state of scholarship on southern women dramatists by bringing together the latest criticism on some of the most important playwrights of the 20th century.Coeditors Robert McDonald and Linda Rohrer Paige attribute the neglect of southern women playwrights in scholarly criticism to "deep historical prejudices" against drama itself and against women artists in general; especially in the South. Their call for critical awareness is answered by the 15 essays they include in Southern Women Playwrights; considerations of the creative work of universally acclaimed playwrights such as Beth Henley; Marsha Norman; and Lillian Hellman (the so-called "Trinity") in addition to that of less-studied playwrights; including Zora Neale Hurston; Carson McCullers; Alice Childress; Naomi Wallace; Amparo Garcia; Paula Vogel; and Regina Porter.This collection springs from a series of associated questions regarding the literary and theatrical heritage of the southern woman playwright; the unique ways in which southern women have approached the conventional modes of comedy and tragedy; and the ways in which the South; its types and stereotypes; its peculiarities; its traditions-both literary and cultural-figure in these womens plays. Especially relevant to these questions are essays on Lillian Hellman; who resisted the label "southern writer;" and Carson McCullers; who never attempted to ignore her southernness.This book begins by recovering little-known or unknown episodes in the history of southern drama and by examining the ways plays assumed importance in the lives of southern women in the early 20th century. It concludes with a look at one of the most vibrant; diverse theatre scenes outside New York today-Atlanta.
#3722805 in eBooks 2015-03-30 2015-03-30File Name: B00VF96N6K
Review
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful. Enjoyable read about fantastic actressBy Jan RadclyffeI enjoyed reading about Meryls life experiences. The author has done a lot of research about her. The only part I was bored by (and skipped reading) was virtually an entire chapter about John Cazale; with whom Meryl had a relationship.0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. Interesting But I Wanted So Much MoreBy Sherril S-K2 1/2 stars.Her Again: Becoming Meryl Streep was well researched and included much information that was of interest to me.Meryl Streep is of my generation (born in 1949; just 2 1/2 years before me) and from New Jersey; as I am. I learned thatStreep; in high school went the direction of cheer leader and high school queen. That tidbit came as a shock to me; but that she got into theater at Vassar College and later at Yale; did not.I would pick up most anything written about Meryl Streep because in my mind she is one of the greatest actors of our times. I would naturally love to learn about how she became what she is and this book explored her early forays into acting and how she intersected with many others who would also become well known names in Hollywood like Mary Beth Hurt; John Lithgow; Christopher Lloyd; Michael Moriarty; and others.The author; Michael Shulman is a respected contributor and arts editor of The New Yorker and his work has been in The New York Times; so it goes without saying that he is a good writer. He went beyond what any good biographer would do in regards to the research for writing the book. However; any book which is about a person who chooses not to meet with or in any way; communicate with the author is going to miss something very important. Having had no access to Meryl Streep; even the best author can not provide a look into the inner world of his subject and ultimately it is Streeps inner world; how she thinks and feels about her life and work and those who have touched it; that really matters. So I rated this book with 2 1/2 stars. I enjoyed it; but wanted so much more.3 of 3 people found the following review helpful. Grounded personality with many simple interests; fun to read about her.By DLTInteresting to find out about the actresses past; how she came to be one of our most admired stars. Sounds like she was very grounded; still is; not into the "fame" thing. Nice to hear about her devotion to family.
