The Making of American Audiences: From Stage to Television, 1750-1990 » (1st Edition)

This is a comprehensive survey of American entertainment audiences from the colonial period to the modern day.

Library Journal

Scott (theater, Univ. of Massachusetts, Amherst; The Commedia Dell'Arte in Paris 1644-1697) sees Moli re's life through a web of documented information, much gossip, rumor and innuendo, and some loose inferences. In the first biography of Moli re in English since 1930, she threads her way gracefully and wittily through this tangle of information to build up a credible portrait of the playwright. She begins with a chapter in which she argues for the validity of imagination in the craft of biography, then proceeds to reinforce her argument throughout the rest of her book. Scott spends much time on Moli re's historical context, relationships, economic and political life, and artistic struggles and develops an excellent portrait of his theater and the state of drama in his time. But she is best on his plays and on understanding them as extensions of his life, providing a full discussion of their development, performances, and reception. Highly recommended.--Thomas E. Luddy, Salem State Coll., MA Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information.