Early American Drama (Penguin Classics)

Rating:
Summary: An indispensable collection
Review: In "Early American Drama," editor Jeffrey H. Richards has assembled eight important American plays, all written between 1787 and 1859. The plays include "The Contrast," Royall Tyler's satire of financial and sexual politics; "The Indian Princess," James Nelson Barker's musical retelling of the legend of Pocahontas; "The Gladiator," Robert Montgomery Bird's tragedy of slavery in ancient Rome; "Fashion," Anna Cora Mowatt's witty comedy about life in New York; and four other gems.

Richards has not only written an insightful introduction for the entire anthology, but provides informative separate introductions to each play. He shares relevant details about each author's life and about the cultural context in which the play was written and performed. Extensive bibliographic material further adds to this book's value as a scholarly resource.

Richards has also made an excellent selection of plays. These literary works brilliantly illuminate the social, political, and cultural issues which impacted the United States from the late 18th to mid 19th centuries. As the editor says in his introduction to the collection, these texts "will still reward the careful reader." Whether one is interested in images of the Native American, substance abuse, racial anxieties, gender politics, or abolitionist thought, one will find plenty of relevant material in "Early American Drama."

I used this book as a class text when I taught a course in early American literature at the University of Pittsburgh some time ago. Some of our best class sessions were spent with the students assuming roles in scenes from these plays and performing these scenes. It was marvelous to hear these classic texts come to life. These are not just texts to be studied by scholars; these plays are a vibrant part of the cultural heritage of the United States. Read, critique, learn, and enjoy.