The Stage Life of Props

Rating:
Summary: A timely and fascinating discourse for theatre devotees
Review: Also available in a hardcover edition (047209839X, $49.50), The Stage Life Of Props by Andrew Sofer (Assistant Professor of English, Boston College) is a thoughtful analysis of the role stage props have held in transcending dramatic convention to add extra dimension and vibrancy to the art of theatrical performance. From the Eucharistic wafer upon the medieval stage; to the bloody handkerchief of the Elizabethan stage; and the pistol on the modern stage; Professor Sofer reveals that any prop to be used in Act III (if shown in Act I), must be shown in Act I in order to be used in Act III. The Stage Life Of Props is a timely and fascinating discourse for theatre devotees and a welcome addition to Theatre Department reference collections and supplemental reading lists for aspiring playwrights.