"A Book About the Theater" by Brander Matthews is a compilation of essays from the early 1900s that explores the theater, from how plays are written to how they are performed. Matthews, who taught dramatic literature, uses his knowledge and real-life experiences to look at different subjects, like how important grand displays are in theater and how the audience interacts with a show. The book starts by considering the connection between entertainment and real life using historical figures and talks about how crucial the link between drama and big, flashy productions is, saying that all entertainment is about having fun. By providing stories and examples from different types of theater, Matthews suggests that knowing the art of the stage requires understanding plays and being aware of how they are performed, including the changing relationship between audience engagement.
A Book About the Theater
By Brander Matthews
Explore the historical stage through the eyes of a dramatic literature professor as he examines acting, audience engagement, and the spectacle of performance.
Summary
About the AuthorJames Brander Matthews was an American academic, writer and literary critic. He was the first full-time professor of dramatic literature at Columbia University in New York and played a significant role in establishing theater as a subject worthy of formal study by academics. His interests ranged from Shakespeare, Molière, and Ibsen to French boulevard comedies, folk theater, and the new realism of his own time.
James Brander Matthews was an American academic, writer and literary critic. He was the first full-time professor of dramatic literature at Columbia University in New York and played a significant role in establishing theater as a subject worthy of formal study by academics. His interests ranged from Shakespeare, Molière, and Ibsen to French boulevard comedies, folk theater, and the new realism of his own time.
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