Masters of the Drama

A descriptive and critical history of theatrical production from the early theatre to the present day in the terms of scenic design. Written by one of the most distinguished pioneers in scene designing and theatre production, a founder and for many ears director of The Theatre Guild. Contain notable chapters on the poetic drama, the function of scenery in the theatre of ideas, the Greek and medieval theatres, the theatre of Molière, the Shakepearian stage, the beginnings of stage realism during the Renaissance, the innovations of the Duke of Saxe-Meiningen, the ideals of Gordon Craig, and the contributions of Adolphe Appia to scenic design and lighting in the theatre and opera. In addition to surveying the entire field, the book provides a detailed account of the work of all the major dramatists, relates them to the social and cultural forces of their time, considers the ideas and the ideals that are contained in the plays, describes their content, and evaluates them. The book is effect, a history of civilization as well as the theatre, and Mr. Gassner’s awareness of this is attested by a 24 page supplement. Nearly 40 pages of double-columns of index and 24 pages of carefully organized bibliography give some indication fo the amount of detail included. It serves as a valuable reference work without sacrificing readability and interest.