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The Oxford Illustrated History of Theatre [Paperback]

John Russell Brown (Editor)
5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)


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Paperback, Unabridged $19.77  
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Book Description

The Oxford Illustrated History of Theatre, an authoritative and lavishly illustrated new history, celebrates the stage's greatest achievements over 4,500 years, from festival performances in ancient Egypt to international, multicultural drama in the late twentieth century, and from Sophocles and Aristophanes to George Gershwin and Harold Pinter.
Here are the playwrights, plays, actors, directors, producers, songwriters, famous playhouses, dramatic movements, and more, accessibly and attractively arranged so that everyone with a passion for the stage can follow the glorious procession of this triumphant art throughout history and across cultures. The Oxford Illustrated History of the Theatre guides readers through the full spectrum of dramatic representation as well as giving due weight to how the scene backstage evolved through the centuries--the role of musicians, light, sound, and equipment, and the art of set design--and to the crucial role of the audience and critics. Finally, there are stimulating essays on the history of Asian theater and a concluding account of theater since 1970 by editor John Russell Brown that highlights the contributions of our best-loved contemporary playwrights, directors, and lyricists.
Spectacular illustrations throughout bring the very visual nature of theater to life, serving as dramatic accompaniment to the text. The Oxford Illustrated History of Theatre is an essential source of reference for anyone interested in the stage, from students and teachers to seasoned professionals and starry-eyed fans.


Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

Brown (theater, Univ. of Michigan; associate, National Theatre of Great Britain) edits this scholarly work by 16 specialists who "have chosen what seems most vital in their various parts of the past and have tried to share their sense of its importance and pleasures." They succeed in presenting their respective histories of the theater in the larger literary, social, and political contexts. European and other Western theaters between the Renaissance and 1700 are emphasized, while the earliest theaters of Greece, Rome, Christian Europe, Africa, and the Americas, "World Theater" of the Orient, and theater since 1970 receive far less coverage. But single-volume histories are by definition selective. Further reading and a chronology supplement each chapter. Despite its minute print, this excellent book is highly recommended for all academic and large public libraries with strong theater collections.?Ming-ming Shen Kuo, Ball St. Univ. Lib., Muncie, Ind.
Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Booklist

Well-written, utterly absorbing, this general history of theater provides a remarkably comprehensive overview of world theater, thanks to editor Brown's inspired idea of structuring the book as a series of connected essays. Each article is by a scholar whose expertise corresponds to the topic at hand: Oliver Taplin discusses Greek theater; Martin Esslin, modern theater; Leslie du S. Read, theater in Africa and pre-Columbian America, etc. This strategy avoids the Eurocentrism of many other theater histories, even though most of the book is still concerned with Western theater; for, indeed, some of the complexity and diversity of traditions influencing contemporary drama and performance theory are accurately conveyed. Of course, the chapters are not all equally satisfying: Taplin on the Greeks manages to shed new light on an often discussed topic, whereas Read's too-short section on Africa and the Americas leaves us wanting to know much more about these scarcely discussed non-Western traditions. Jack Helbig --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

  • Paperback: 592 pages
  • Publisher: Oxford University Press, USA (December 11, 1997)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 0192880624
  • ISBN-13: 978-0192880628
  • Product Dimensions: 9.7 x 7.8 x 1.2 inches
  • Shipping Weight: 2.8 pounds
  • Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
  • Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,351,979 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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17 of 19 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars Outstanding Book, July 13, 2000
This review is from: The Oxford Illustrated History of Theatre (Paperback)
This recopilation of 13 essays by 16 different writters is one of the most outstanding pieces ever written regarding this subject. It covers thetrical history from Egyptiand to present day with insightful remarks and comprehensive easy to follow writting style. Definitly a must have for theater lovers everywhere
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Inside This Book (learn more)
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First Sentence:
THE very words theatre, drama, tragedy, and comedy are Greek in origin; so are scene, episode, music, chorus, character, mime, and dialogue (and so, come to that, is history). Read the first page
Key Phrases - Statistically Improbable Phrases (SIPs): (learn more)
lakhon nora, household players, hat boi, mor lam, scenic stage, commedia dellarte, theatre genres, saint play, travelling troupes, total theatre, independent theatre, medieval theatre, theatre architecture
Key Phrases - Capitalized Phrases (CAPs): (learn more)
New York, Drury Lane, United States, Robin Hood, Corpus Christi, Julius Caesar, Covent Garden, Peking Opera, Red Lion, Chamberlain's Men, Lord Chamberlain, Moscow Art Theatre, Second World War, West End, Deutsches Theater, Uncle Tom's Cabin, First World War, King's Company, King's Men, Midsummer Night's Dream, Old Testament, Peter Brook, Doll's House, Dorset Garden, Lincoln's Inn Fields
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