Titus Andronicus
Picking up in 1989, where Alan C. Dessen's celebrated study of the stage history of Shakespeare's Titus Andronicus left off, Michael D. Friedman's second edition adds an examination of twelve major theatrical productions and one film that appeared around the world in the following two decades. Friedman identifies four vital lines of descent in the recent performance history of the play: the stylised approach, which renders the play's savagery in a formalised manner; the realistic approach, which features literal and serious representations of bloodshed; the darkly comic approach, which takes full advantage of the play's opportunities for black humour; and the political approach, which uses the play as a vehicle to comment upon contemporary attitudes toward violence, warfare, and repressive governments. All of the productions covered by Friedman fit primarily into one of these catagories, but Julie Taymor's harrowing film Titus (1999), based upon her 1994 stage production at New York's Theatre for a New Audience, incorporates elements from all four lines of descent, making it the most characteristic, as well as the most influential, contemporary performance of the play.

Friedman's second edition extends Dessen's study to include an in-depth consideration of Taymor's widely-viewed film, along with chapters devoted to the efforts of major international directors including Gregory Doran, Silviu Purcarete, and Yukio Ninagawa. This expanded volume will prove essential to students of Shakespeare's play, along with scholars interested in the tragedy's gruesome yet occasionally comical performance history.
1114766652
Titus Andronicus
Picking up in 1989, where Alan C. Dessen's celebrated study of the stage history of Shakespeare's Titus Andronicus left off, Michael D. Friedman's second edition adds an examination of twelve major theatrical productions and one film that appeared around the world in the following two decades. Friedman identifies four vital lines of descent in the recent performance history of the play: the stylised approach, which renders the play's savagery in a formalised manner; the realistic approach, which features literal and serious representations of bloodshed; the darkly comic approach, which takes full advantage of the play's opportunities for black humour; and the political approach, which uses the play as a vehicle to comment upon contemporary attitudes toward violence, warfare, and repressive governments. All of the productions covered by Friedman fit primarily into one of these catagories, but Julie Taymor's harrowing film Titus (1999), based upon her 1994 stage production at New York's Theatre for a New Audience, incorporates elements from all four lines of descent, making it the most characteristic, as well as the most influential, contemporary performance of the play.

Friedman's second edition extends Dessen's study to include an in-depth consideration of Taymor's widely-viewed film, along with chapters devoted to the efforts of major international directors including Gregory Doran, Silviu Purcarete, and Yukio Ninagawa. This expanded volume will prove essential to students of Shakespeare's play, along with scholars interested in the tragedy's gruesome yet occasionally comical performance history.
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Titus Andronicus

Titus Andronicus

Titus Andronicus

Titus Andronicus

Paperback(2nd ed.)

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Overview

Picking up in 1989, where Alan C. Dessen's celebrated study of the stage history of Shakespeare's Titus Andronicus left off, Michael D. Friedman's second edition adds an examination of twelve major theatrical productions and one film that appeared around the world in the following two decades. Friedman identifies four vital lines of descent in the recent performance history of the play: the stylised approach, which renders the play's savagery in a formalised manner; the realistic approach, which features literal and serious representations of bloodshed; the darkly comic approach, which takes full advantage of the play's opportunities for black humour; and the political approach, which uses the play as a vehicle to comment upon contemporary attitudes toward violence, warfare, and repressive governments. All of the productions covered by Friedman fit primarily into one of these catagories, but Julie Taymor's harrowing film Titus (1999), based upon her 1994 stage production at New York's Theatre for a New Audience, incorporates elements from all four lines of descent, making it the most characteristic, as well as the most influential, contemporary performance of the play.

Friedman's second edition extends Dessen's study to include an in-depth consideration of Taymor's widely-viewed film, along with chapters devoted to the efforts of major international directors including Gregory Doran, Silviu Purcarete, and Yukio Ninagawa. This expanded volume will prove essential to students of Shakespeare's play, along with scholars interested in the tragedy's gruesome yet occasionally comical performance history.

Product Details

ISBN-13: 9781526139436
Publisher: Manchester University Press
Publication date: 07/03/2019
Series: Shakespeare in Performance
Edition description: 2nd ed.
Pages: 304
Product dimensions: 5.50(w) x 8.90(h) x 0.70(d)

About the Author

Michael D. Friedman is a Professor of English in the McDade Center for Literary and Performing Arts at the University of Scranton

Alan C. Dessen is Peter G. Phialas Professor of English at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill

Table of Contents

Part 1

Introduction

I From Edward Ravenscroft to Peter Brook

II To stylise or not to stylise

III Trusting the script: Deborah Warner at the Swan

IV Problems then and now

V The sense of an ending

Conclusion: What price Titus?

Part 2

Segue

I Jeannette Lambermont, Daniel Mesguich, and Michael Maggio

II Peter Stein and Silviu Purcarete

III Gregory Doran

IV Julie Taymor: 1994 and 1999

V Yukio Ninagawa, Bill Alexander, Gale Edwards, Richard Rose, and Lucy Bailey

Epilogue: Looking toward the future

Appendix: Major actors and staff for productions discussed in this volume

Bibliography

Index
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