Pravda (Methuen Modern Plays) [Paperback]

Howard Brenton (Author), David Hare (Author)

Book Description

Series: Methuen Modern Plays | Publication Date: June 13, 1985

Pravda (which means "truth") is a comedy of excess which, for the first time puts modern Fleet Street on the stage. "Pravda is an epic comedy - part The Front Page, part Arturo Ui - in which a press baron resembling Rupert Murdoch…does battle with over 30 characters as he conquers Fleet Street journalism and by implication, liberal England's soul." (Frank Rich, New York Times) This is Howard Brenton's and David Hare's first collaboration since Brassneck in 1973. It was premiered at The National Theatre in spring 1985 and awarded the London Standard Best Play Award, the City Limits Best Play Award and the Plays and Players Best Play Award.

 

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Savagely bitchy and often wildly funny."—Punch

"A sulphorous and crackling entertainment"—Observer

About the Author

Howard Brenton had written for the Royal Court, the RSC, and the National before Romans in Britain (1980) was famously prosecuted by moral crusader, Mary Whitehouse. In addition to many plays, he has been a lead writer on TV's Spooks. His recent work for the stage includes Paul (National), In Extremis (Globe) and Never So Good (National).

Product Details

• Paperback: 128 pages
• Publisher: Methuen Drama (June 13, 1985)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0413584801
• ISBN-13: 978-0413584809
• Product Dimensions: 7.3 x 4.7 x 0.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3.7 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,953,218 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A cynical view of the world of modern journalism, October 3, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: Pravda (Methuen Modern Plays) (Paperback)

Although littered with 80's references which may trip up the reader at first, Pravda is the tale of an honest journalist who see's his profession debased through the growth of tabloids, the sensational shocking headlines and the British public's lust for sex, royalty and nationalism. Into this arena walks La Roux, cunning, devious and calculating, a very thinly veiled Murdoch his personality turns everyone towards him, controlling the worlds of royalty, sports, politics and at the end the world of journalism, forcing even the "hero" of the book to give up his honest journalistic instincts and start calling for smut.