Greek Tragedy on the American Stage: Ancient Drama in the Commercial Theater, 1882-1994 (Contributions in Drama and Theatre Studies)

During the past century, the interpretation given by the various directors staging Greek drama has varied, and the critical reception accorded the productions has also altered. While the texts of Aeschylus, Sophocles, and Euripides remain constant, the meanings drawn from their plays do not. The director who decides to offer a Greek tragedy in the modern American commercial theater believes in the ability of the text to reach the contemporary audience, and the reviewers assess the success of the venture: their words become a record of both a particular performance and the time in which it played. Hartigan explores how drama and society interact and witnesses the continued vitality of the Greek tragedy. 1. Introduction -- 2. The Earliest Plays -- Sophocles: Oedipus Tyrannus -- Sophocles: Antigone -- 3. Greek Tragedy Gains Recognition: 1900-1915 -- Euripides: Trojan Women -- Euripides: Iphigeneia At Tauris -- Euripides: Electra -- 4. Greek Tragedy Comes Of Age: 1915-1935 -- Sophocles: Electra -- Sophocles: Oedipus Tyrannus -- 5. Greek Tragedy Achieves Status: 1935-1950 -- Sophocles: Oedipus Tyrannus -- Euripides: Trojan Women -- Euripides: Medea -- Euripides: Hippolytus -- Euripides: Electra -- 6. Greek Tragedy Responds To War, Drugs, And Flower Children: 1960-1970 -- Aeschylus: Oresteia -- Euripides: The Bacchae -- Euripides: Iphigeneia At Aulis -- 7. Greek Tagedy Echoes A Period Of Self-reflection: 1970-1980 -- Aeschylus: Persians -- Sophocles: Oedipus At Colonus -- 8. Greek Tragedy And Reevaluation: 1980-1994 -- Sophocles: Antigone -- Sophocles: Ajax -- Euripides: Alcestis -- Euripides: Orestes -- 9. Occasional Productions: Greek Tragedies Rarely Brought To The Boards -- Aeschylus: Prometheus Bound -- Sophocles: Philoctetes -- Sophocles: Women Of Trachis -- Euripides: Ion -- Euripides: Hecuba -- Euripides: Heracles -- Euripides: Suppliant Women. Karelisa V. Hartigan. Includes Bibliographical References (p. [155]-156) And Index. Contents 8 Preface 10 1 Introduction 14 2 The Earliest Plays 20 3 Greek Tragedy Gains Recognition: 1900– 1915 28 4 Greek Tragedy Comes of Age: 1915– 1935 38 5 Greek Tragedy Achieves Status: 1935– 1950 52 6 Greek Tragedy Responds to War, Drugs, and Flower Children: 1960– 1970 80 7 Greek Tragedy Echoes a Period of Self- Reflection: 1970– 1980 114 8 Greek Tragedy and Reevaluation: 1980– 1994 124 9 Occasional Productions: Greek Tragedies Rarely Brought to the Boards 144 10 Conclusion 160 Selected Bibliography 168 Index 170