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Satire & The State: Sketch Comedy and the Presidency
by Matt FotisSatire & The State focuses on performance-based satire, most often seen in sketch comedy, from 1960 to the present, and explores how sketch comedy has shaped the way Americans view the president and themselves. Numerous sketch comedy portrayals of presidents that have seeped into the American consciousness – Chevy Chase’s Gerald Ford, Dana Carvey’s George H.W. Bush, and Will Ferrell’s George W. Bush all worked to shape the actual politician’s public persona. The book analyzes these sketches and many others, illustrating how comedy is at the heart of the health and function of American democracy. At its best, satire aimed at the presidency can work as a populist check on executive power, becoming one of the most important weapons for everyday Americans against tyranny and political corruption. At its worst, satire can reflect and promote racism, misogyny, and homophobia in America. Written for students of Theatre, Performance, Political Science, and Media Studies courses, as well as readers with an interest in political comedy, Satire & The State offers a deeper understanding of the relationship between comedy and the presidency, and the ways in which satire becomes a window into the culture, principles, and beliefs of a country.
Satire & The State: Sketch Comedy and the Presidency
by Matt FotisSatire & The State focuses on performance-based satire, most often seen in sketch comedy, from 1960 to the present, and explores how sketch comedy has shaped the way Americans view the president and themselves. Numerous sketch comedy portrayals of presidents that have seeped into the American consciousness – Chevy Chase’s Gerald Ford, Dana Carvey’s George H.W. Bush, and Will Ferrell’s George W. Bush all worked to shape the actual politician’s public persona. The book analyzes these sketches and many others, illustrating how comedy is at the heart of the health and function of American democracy. At its best, satire aimed at the presidency can work as a populist check on executive power, becoming one of the most important weapons for everyday Americans against tyranny and political corruption. At its worst, satire can reflect and promote racism, misogyny, and homophobia in America. Written for students of Theatre, Performance, Political Science, and Media Studies courses, as well as readers with an interest in political comedy, Satire & The State offers a deeper understanding of the relationship between comedy and the presidency, and the ways in which satire becomes a window into the culture, principles, and beliefs of a country.
Saturn Returns (Modern Plays)
by Noah HaidleThere are echoes. Do you know what I mean? They were here. And then they weren't. And I have to stay here. Because this is where they were.Every thirty years, the planet Saturn returns to the same place in the universe it occupied on the day of your birth. Its arrival is said to herald pivotal events in a person's life.In Saturn Returns, we follow one man, Gustin Novak, at the ages of 28, 58 and 88, as he reaches a series of crossroads with three key women and comes to understand how the echoes of the past have defined the orbit of his life. An enthralling time-bending structure allows us to watch Gustin over a period of sixty years in a series of deftly interwoven scenes. Moving from wry humour to touching poignancy, this new play from one of American theatre's brightest new voices unashamedly looks for answers to life's big questions.
Saturn Returns (Modern Plays)
by Noah HaidleThere are echoes. Do you know what I mean? They were here. And then they weren't. And I have to stay here. Because this is where they were.Every thirty years, the planet Saturn returns to the same place in the universe it occupied on the day of your birth. Its arrival is said to herald pivotal events in a person's life.In Saturn Returns, we follow one man, Gustin Novak, at the ages of 28, 58 and 88, as he reaches a series of crossroads with three key women and comes to understand how the echoes of the past have defined the orbit of his life. An enthralling time-bending structure allows us to watch Gustin over a period of sixty years in a series of deftly interwoven scenes. Moving from wry humour to touching poignancy, this new play from one of American theatre's brightest new voices unashamedly looks for answers to life's big questions.
Satyric Play: The Evolution of Greek Comedy and Satyr Drama
by Carl ShawSatyric Play is the first book to offer an integrated analysis of Greek comedy and satyr drama. Using a literary-historical approach, Carl A. Shaw argues that comedy and satyr plays influenced each other in nearly all stages of their development. Although satyr drama was written by tragedians and employed a number of formal tragic elements, the humorous chorus of half-man, half-horse satyrs encouraged sustained interaction between poets of comedy and satyr play. From sixth-century proto-drama, through classical productions staged at the Athenian City Dionysia, to bookish Alexandrian plays of the third-century, the remains of comic and satyric performances reveal a range of literary, aesthetic, historical, religious, and geographical connections. Shaw analyzes the details of this interplay diachronically, looking at a wide range of literary and material evidence. He shows that ancient critics and poets allude to comic-satyric associations in surprising ways, vases depict fascinating performative connections, and the plays themselves share titles, plots, modes of humor, and occasionally even a chorus of satyrs. Satyric Play uncovers and examines the complex, shifting relationship between comedy and satyr drama, offering insight into the development of these genres and the Greek theatrical experience as a whole.
Sauchiehall Street (Modern Plays)
by Iain HeggieSauchiehall Street. The busiest street in Glasgow. In a sprawling top floor office, Dorothy Darvel, actors' agent extraordinaire, is one of the busiest women on the street. Busy shaping the careers of her hopeful young clients, busy trying to stem the flow of the best ones to powerful London agencies and busy trying to check the reckless spending of her once famous actor husband, Gerard. All this while trying to haul his declining career back on track... By the author of the "darkly humourous and addictively engaging" Wiping My Mother's Arse, winnner of the Scottish Fringe Firsts, 2001. Sauchiehall Street premiered at the Cumbernauld Theatre, North Lanarkshire, Scotland in March 2004 in a production by Vanishing Point Theatre Company.
Sauchiehall Street (Modern Plays)
by Iain HeggieSauchiehall Street. The busiest street in Glasgow. In a sprawling top floor office, Dorothy Darvel, actors' agent extraordinaire, is one of the busiest women on the street. Busy shaping the careers of her hopeful young clients, busy trying to stem the flow of the best ones to powerful London agencies and busy trying to check the reckless spending of her once famous actor husband, Gerard. All this while trying to haul his declining career back on track... By the author of the "darkly humourous and addictively engaging" Wiping My Mother's Arse, winnner of the Scottish Fringe Firsts, 2001. Sauchiehall Street premiered at the Cumbernauld Theatre, North Lanarkshire, Scotland in March 2004 in a production by Vanishing Point Theatre Company.
Savage (Oberon Modern Plays)
by Claudio MacorThe shocking story of brutal medical experiments on gay men by the Nazis. Copenhagen 1940. Zack and Nikolai are happy in love and enjoy a blissful lifestyle on the gay scene until they are arrested during the Nazi invasion of Denmark. Zack, an American attaché with diplomatic immunity goes free. But Nikolai is handed over to the notorious Dr Carl Værnet who claims to have discovered a ‘cure’ for homosexuality. Værnet was encouraged by the Nazis to conduct cruel experiments on homosexuals which left them mutilated for life. The choice was to suffer this torture or die in a concentration camp. A Holocaust story which resonates through history.
Saved (Modern Classics)
by Edward BondDescribed by its author as 'almost irresponsibly optimistic', Saved is a play set in London in the sixties. Its subject is the cultural poverty and frustration of a generation of young people on the dole and living on council estates. The play was first staged privately in November 1965 at the Royal Court Theatre before members of the English Stage Society in a time when plays were still censored. With its scenes of violence, including the stoning of a baby, Saved became a notorious play and a cause célèbre. In a letter to the Observer, Sir Laurence Olivier wrote: 'Saved is not a play for children but it is for grown-ups, and the grown-ups of this country should have the courage to look at it.' Saved has had a marked influence on a whole new generation writing in the 1990s.Edward Bond is "a great playwright - many, particularly in continental Europe, would say the greatest living English playwright" (Independent)
Saved: Saved; Early Morning; The Pope's Wedding (Modern Classics)
by Edward BondDescribed by its author as 'almost irresponsibly optimistic', Saved is a play set in London in the sixties. Its subject is the cultural poverty and frustration of a generation of young people on the dole and living on council estates. The play was first staged privately in November 1965 at the Royal Court Theatre before members of the English Stage Society in a time when plays were still censored. With its scenes of violence, including the stoning of a baby, Saved became a notorious play and a cause célèbre. In a letter to the Observer, Sir Laurence Olivier wrote: 'Saved is not a play for children but it is for grown-ups, and the grown-ups of this country should have the courage to look at it.' Saved has had a marked influence on a whole new generation writing in the 1990s.Edward Bond is "a great playwright - many, particularly in continental Europe, would say the greatest living English playwright" (Independent)
Saved (Student Editions)
by Edward Bond David DavisDescribed by Edward Bond as 'almost irresponsibly optimistic', Saved is a play set in London in the sixties and reflects a time of social change. Its subject is the cultural poverty and frustration of a generation of young people on the dole and living on council estates. The play was first staged privately in November 1965 at the Royal Court Theatre for members of the English Stage Society at a time when plays were still censored. With its scenes of violence, including the stoning of a baby in its pram, Saved became a notorious play and a cause célèbre. It has since had a profound influence on a whole new generation of writers who emerged in the 1990s. Commentary and notes by David Davis.
Saved: Saved; Early Morning; The Pope's Wedding (Student Editions)
by Edward Bond David DavisDescribed by Edward Bond as 'almost irresponsibly optimistic', Saved is a play set in London in the sixties and reflects a time of social change. Its subject is the cultural poverty and frustration of a generation of young people on the dole and living on council estates. The play was first staged privately in November 1965 at the Royal Court Theatre for members of the English Stage Society at a time when plays were still censored. With its scenes of violence, including the stoning of a baby in its pram, Saved became a notorious play and a cause célèbre. It has since had a profound influence on a whole new generation of writers who emerged in the 1990s. Commentary and notes by David Davis.
The Scar Test (Modern Plays)
by Hannah KhalilI haven't hurt anyone, killed, raped, murdered - I just ran away - came here to be safe. But I'm locked up. I just - I can't believe this is England.They have run away from unimaginable horrors looking only for safety. But, imprisoned together at Yarl's Wood Dentention Centre, these women are stuck in a limbo that offers them exactly the opposite. Based on verbatim interviews from current and former detainees, The Scar Test takes you inside one of England's migrant detention centres, exposing the conditions the inmates must endure whilst awaiting a decision on their fate. Told with compassion, Hannah Khalil's play throws a spotlight on the harrowing ordeals of the female migrants seeking refuge in Britain and the obstacles they face in the process.Published to coincide with its 2017 London and regional tour, The Scar Test originally debuted in 2015 with Untold Arts company.
The Scar Test (Modern Plays)
by Hannah KhalilI haven't hurt anyone, killed, raped, murdered - I just ran away - came here to be safe. But I'm locked up. I just - I can't believe this is England.They have run away from unimaginable horrors looking only for safety. But, imprisoned together at Yarl's Wood Dentention Centre, these women are stuck in a limbo that offers them exactly the opposite. Based on verbatim interviews from current and former detainees, The Scar Test takes you inside one of England's migrant detention centres, exposing the conditions the inmates must endure whilst awaiting a decision on their fate. Told with compassion, Hannah Khalil's play throws a spotlight on the harrowing ordeals of the female migrants seeking refuge in Britain and the obstacles they face in the process.Published to coincide with its 2017 London and regional tour, The Scar Test originally debuted in 2015 with Untold Arts company.
The Scarecrow and His Servant (Oberon Modern Plays)
by Philip Pullman Simon ReadeOutrageously zany and filed with non-stop surprises, Simon Reade’s theatrical adaptation of The Scarecrow and His Servant, renowned author Philip Pullman's fictional children's tale, is an enchanting play for young readers and performers. Delve into the magical world of Scarecrow as you accompany him as Jack, his trusty help-mate, and together you can embark on adventures that will make your head spin. From dodging dangerous bandits and surviving terrifying shipwrecks, to soaring through the skies with wild birds, this play is a roller-coaster ride of never-ending escapades. But when the river-polluting Buffaloni tyrants catch up with you for a final showdown, who will come to your rescue and save the day?A production of The Scarecrow and His Servant ran at the Southwark Playhouse in December 2008-January 2009.
Scarfed for Life (Modern Plays)
by Martin TraversSupporters? Sport? It may as well be bare knuckle boxing or dug fighting!A modern parable set against the backdrop of the first Old Firm clash of the season. Funny, tough and thought-provoking, Scarfed for Life tells the story of two teenage friends caught in the crossfire of polite suburban prejudice and garden equipment.The play draws on what sectarianism and prejudice actually mean to young Glaswegians, and how it affects them and their peers. The Old Firm is the collective name for the Glasgow association football clubs Celtic and Rangers. Scarfed for Life is a hard-hitting play based on the experiences of discrimination and prejudice among the young people of Glasgow.
Scarfed For Life: 2nd edition (Modern Plays)
by Martin TraversA modern parable set against the backdrop of the first Old Firm clash of the season. Funny, hard-hitting and thought-provoking, the second edition of Scarfed for Life tells the story of two teenage friends caught in the crossfire of polite suburban prejudice and garden equipment. Ideal for secondary school students, the play draws on what sectarianism and prejudice actually mean to young Glaswegians, and how it affects them and their peers. Scarfed for Life is a hard-hitting play based on the experiences of discrimination and prejudice among the young people of Glasgow.The play toured secondary schools in Scotland in 2011 and Scottish prisons in 2013. The language in this edition has been revised specifically with school-age students in mind, and is an ideal, issue-led play for students 14+.
Scarfed for Life: 2nd Edition (Modern Plays)
by Martin TraversSupporters? Sport? It may as well be bare knuckle boxing or dug fighting!A modern parable set against the backdrop of the first Old Firm clash of the season. Funny, tough and thought-provoking, Scarfed for Life tells the story of two teenage friends caught in the crossfire of polite suburban prejudice and garden equipment.The play draws on what sectarianism and prejudice actually mean to young Glaswegians, and how it affects them and their peers. The Old Firm is the collective name for the Glasgow association football clubs Celtic and Rangers. Scarfed for Life is a hard-hitting play based on the experiences of discrimination and prejudice among the young people of Glasgow.
Scarfed For Life: 2nd edition (Modern Plays)
by Martin TraversA modern parable set against the backdrop of the first Old Firm clash of the season. Funny, hard-hitting and thought-provoking, the second edition of Scarfed for Life tells the story of two teenage friends caught in the crossfire of polite suburban prejudice and garden equipment. Ideal for secondary school students, the play draws on what sectarianism and prejudice actually mean to young Glaswegians, and how it affects them and their peers. Scarfed for Life is a hard-hitting play based on the experiences of discrimination and prejudice among the young people of Glasgow.The play toured secondary schools in Scotland in 2011 and Scottish prisons in 2013. The language in this edition has been revised specifically with school-age students in mind, and is an ideal, issue-led play for students 14+.
The Scarlet Pimpernel: Large Print (Scarlet Pimpernel Ser. #Vol. 1)
by Baroness OrczyBaroness Orczy's classic tale of adventure during the French Revolution. Also available as an unabridged audiobook, read by Julian Rhind-Tutt.Paris, 1792. The Terror has begun. Every day, scores of the French nobility are delivered to the guillotine. Trapped in the capital, they have no way of escape. But rumours abound of a league of young English gentlemen who are risking their lives to spirit French aristocrats away to safety across the Channel. Led by a man known only as the 'Scarlet Pimpernel', they leave no trace behind them save a single note. Determined to stop them, ruthless spymaster Chauvelin travels to England and embarks on a quest to uncover the identity of their leader, forcing the Scarlet Pimpernel and his men to summon all their courage and wits to evade capture and stay alive.PRAISE FOR THE SCARLET PIMPERNEL"Anyone who feels that their outward manner is but a travesty of their inner self can hardly fail to respond to THE SCARLET PIMPERNEL" - Independent"The Baroness Orczy invented the "masked avenger" genre of fiction - the swashbuckling hero of dual identity. Her progeny include Zorro, Superman, The Lone Ranger and many others." - Audiofile Magazine
Scene Painting Projects for Theatre
by Stephen G. SherwinThe art, practice, and technique of scene painting is an essential part of theatre design. A scenic artist is responsible for translating the vision of the scenic designer to the realized scenery.Unlike all other scene painting books, this text will take you step-by-step through actual individual scene painting projects. Each project is commonly used in theatrical productions and each project builds upon the skills learned in the previous lesson. From wood and marble, to foliage and drapery, this book will teach the you how to become a skilled scenic painter.
Scene Painting Projects for Theatre
by Stephen G. SherwinThe art, practice, and technique of scene painting is an essential part of theatre design. A scenic artist is responsible for translating the vision of the scenic designer to the realized scenery.Unlike all other scene painting books, this text will take you step-by-step through actual individual scene painting projects. Each project is commonly used in theatrical productions and each project builds upon the skills learned in the previous lesson. From wood and marble, to foliage and drapery, this book will teach the you how to become a skilled scenic painter.
Scene Shift: U.S. Set Designers in Conversation
by Maureen Weiss Sibyl WickersheimerThis book showcases contemporary US set design by engaging designers with one another, pairing dialogue and imagery from varied experiences and practices. Within these pages, we witness an expansion of traditional theatrical set design, evolving fluidly to include such work as performance art, installation, community events, and exhibitions, to name a few. The design and the designer have a story to tell that goes beyond the immediate collaboration. Readers get an intimate perspective providing insight into a somewhat mysterious world that has been under-valued and under-evaluated. The conversations include designers who are commercially successful, artistically successful, and those who have existed on the fringes of the theatre world whose work is not necessarily definable, and therefore not as visible. These thirty designers provide the next generation a view into a variety of career paths while also validating and encouraging an appreciation of their diverse artistic accomplishments.
Scenes from 68* Years (Modern Plays)
by Hannah KhalilWhat are we doing then? Come on, lets go – all of us, lets tell everyone in the street, its too late we've lost, all the years of hardship, being murdered, imprisoned, having your homes taken, your jobs, your fields, your olives, your ability to move from one place to another – everything you have endured has been for nothing. They'vewon. So let's just leave it to them, disappear. It's what they want. You are doing what they want. You are an educated young Palestinian man. We need you here. Stay.Scenes from 68* Years is a selection of intertwined vignettes telling the story of ordinary Palestinians at a very human level with mischievous humour. It offers snapshots of the routine of life in the shadow of occupation: we look into an Israeli household with a rebellious pro-Palestinian teenager, join a tediously long queue at an Israeli check point, and get swept into an absurd act of civil disobedience by Palestinian civilians in a desperate attempt to get worldwide media attention. Scenes from 68* Years was selected from 100 scripts by the Arcola Theatre and the play received its world premiere at the Arcola Theatre on 5 April 2016 in a production by Sandpit Arts.