Overview
Wendy Wasserstein: A Casebook contains in-depth discussions of the playwright's major works, including her recent play 1 An American Daughter. Wasserstein's plays and essays are explored within diverse traditions, including Jewish storytelling, women's writing, and classical comedy. Critical perspectives include feminist, Bakhtinian, and actor/director. Comparisons with other playwrights, such as Rachel Crothers, Caryl Churchill, and Anton Chekhov, provide context and understanding. An interview with the playwright and an annotated bibliography are included.
Synopsis
Wendy Wasserstein: A Casebook contains in-depth discussions of the playwright's major works, including her recent play 1 An American Daughter. Wasserstein's plays and essays are explored within diverse traditions, including Jewish storytelling, women's writing, and classical comedy. Critical perspectives include feminist, Bakhtinian, and actor/director. Comparisons with other playwrights, such as Rachel Crothers, Caryl Churchill, and Anton Chekhov, provide context and understanding. An interview with the playwright and an annotated bibliography are included.
Booknews
Wendy Wasserstein is one of America's foremost playwrights. At times her gender has led to unfair evaluation of her work because critics looking for a straightforward feminist point of view are likely to be disappointed by her complex vision of life. This collection includes essays that contextualize and analyze her writing from a variety of perspectives. Topics include female communities in , the role of women in , and the unfavorable critical reception of . Includes an interview with the playwright. The editor is an assistant professor at Middle Tennessee State University Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)