Playwright

describing performances on the Nile river where, according to the book, ‘Minute History of the Drama’, the acting was so realistic that “actors” died in the scenes depicting battles. However, the title for 'Oldest Written Play' would be held by the Greek playwright, Aeschylus, for his play, ‘The Persians’ which the Getty museum estimates was written around 472 B.C. He was the first to add a second character to theater, the antagonist. Before him, plays had one character, the protagonist, and the…

“I am a witch hunter if the witches are Communists…”Actor Adolphe Menjou declared during an investigation on Hollywood workers. Looking at the events that take place during the playwright The Crucible, we see many similarities between this fictional story and the “Red Scare” that took place in the 1950s. There are many parallels between the story in The Crucible and the real live events of the “Red Scare.” The “Red Scare of the 1950s” has often been considered to have quite a lot of resemblance…

Contemporary African American Drama takes an in-depth look at the evolution of African Americans in the arts and literature. Trudier Harris, the author of the introduction, explains the unfair characterization of African Americans in plays prior to playwrights using true historical content in their writing. Earlier portrayals of blacks were negative stereotypical roles such as “loud, outrageously dressed, comically violent and always humorous,” were hard to get away from and unfortunately…

plays a big part in moving the story along. Stage directions, lighting, and sound effects work together to make The Cuban Swimmer a submersible one-act play. These properties of staging make the audience use their imagination to assume what the playwright is referring to. As the result of this, the play makes the audience feel like they are a part of it. At the beginning of the play, the setting and time are introduced. Stage directions then show the movement of a boat. “Pacific Ocean. Midday.…

for his dramatic works. Even though initially illustrated either as a realist or an absurdist, Albee merges elements both from the American tradition of social criticism, practiced by playwrights such as Arthur Miller, Tennessee Williams, and…

There is even less that survives and is read by the common people and taught in schools. William Shakespeare wrote timeless pieces that have done just that. It is said that, “...he has come to be seen as not only a great English playwright, but the greatest playwright in the English language,” (The Life of William Shakespeare (1564-1616). Although a subjective statement, the facts can not be ignored. William Shakespeare is taught to kids of all ages. His plays are still performed. The Globe…

birth of his children, he wrote parts 1, 2, & 3 of Henry VI between 1590 and 1592. His first production came to be on March 3rd of 1592. He continued to create works until 1613, but whether William Shakespeare was the true name of this prolific playwright and poet is what shall…

a static character while Lysander is dynamic in A Midsummer Night’s Dream. In this play written by Shakespeare, there are many characterizations, dramatic techniques, and themes. Likewise, playwright Henrik Ibsen used many of the same techniques in A Doll’s House. One prominent technique used by both playwrights is characterizations, they use dynamic characters such as Lysander and Nora as well as static characters like Torvald and Hermia for many reasons. Shakespeare and Ibsen use static…

He was an English actor, playwright, theatre manager and producer who influenced nearly all aspects of theatrical practice throughout the 18th century, and was a pupil and friend of Dr Samuel Johnson. He appeared in a number of amateur theatricals, and with his appearance in the title…

Arthur Miller and Edgar Allan Poe Considered one of the greatest American playwrights of the 20th century is Arthur Miller. His best known plays include 'All My Sons,' 'A View from the Bridge,' 'The Crucible' and the Pulitzer Prize-winning 'Death of a Salesman.' Arthur Miller was born in Harlem, New York on October 17, 1915 to an immigrant family of Polish and Jewish descent. His father, Isidore, owned a successful coat manufacturing business, and his mother, Augusta, to whom he was closer, was…