Shadows Of Realism »

NANCY KINDELAN is Associate Professor of Theatre at Northeastern University.

This insightful work fills a gap in theatre studies, illuminating how modernism influences theatrical interpretations and productions. Kindelan focuses on how contemporary practitioners evoke new renderings of classical playscripts, incorporating interviews with over 20 prominent professional actors, directors, designers, and dramaturgs who discuss the way they work with a playscript in preparation for production. The book includes a case study illustrating how imagistic readings of Chekhov's The Seagull produce metaphorical productions. Kindelan addresses such controversial issues as subjectivity, imagistic theatre, reconceiving, and the artist as auteur. This work will be a valuable resource for theatre artists interested in developing their interpretive skills.

Booknews

Kindelan (theatre, Northeastern U., Boston) begins with an exposition of the historical development of modernism's imagistic metaphorical theatre, followed by a dialogue with a number of leading professional actors, directors, designers, and dramaturgs. The remaining chapters pursue how the theories and practices of modernism have contributed to a dramaturgy that centers on imagistic cognition, how imagistic readings of The Seagull produce metaphorical productions, and how current interpretive trends have stimulated thought concerning the artist as auteur. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)