American Labor On Stage, Vol. 72

This study reclaims a lost body of theatrical work by focusing on four labor plays of the 1930s. These works dramatize union organizing efforts in American industry, using documentary detail in the dialogue and plot. To date, little attention has been given to the use of documentary detail in American scripts. Placing the labor plays in a social and historical context, Duffy raises interesting questions about the depiction of women as labor leaders and the overlooked role of women playwrights in the 1920s and 30s. The discussion focuses on the function of the plays and the question of whether they were merely didactic or if they served greater propagandistic ends. This work will be of interest to scholars in theatre history, American studies, southern history, and American labor history.

This study reclaims a lost body of theatrical work by focusing on four labor plays of the 1930s. These works dramatize union organizing efforts in American industry, using documentary detail in the dialogue and plot. To date, little attention has been given to the use of documentary detail in American scripts. Placing the labor plays in a social and historical context, Duffy raises interesting questions about the depiction of women as labor leaders and the overlooked role of women playwrights in the 1920s and 30s. The discussion focuses on the function of the plays and the question of whether they were merely didactic or if they served greater propagandistic ends. This work will be of interest to scholars in theatre history, American studies, southern history, and American labor history.

Booknews

Duffy (speech communications, California Polytechnic State U.) analyzes four plays that represent artistic responses to industries that epitomize the settings of American labor in two geographical regions, steel in the North and textiles in the South. She examines the other work, background, and political views of the playwrights; the interaction of characters, pace of the action, representations of different groups, and other internal aspects; and the reception of the plays. Annotation c. by Book News, Inc., Portland, Or.

SUSAN DUFFY is Professor of Speech Communication at California Polytechnic State University.