The Shavian Playground: An Exploration of the Art of George Bernard Shaw [Hardcover]

In The Shavian Playground, originally published in 1972, Shaws plays are examined as self-contained imaginative structures intended for theatrical performance. Beginning with a consideration of his novels, the book covers the whole span of Shaws career as a dramatist playing special attention to critically and theatrically neglected plays, and offering fresh interpretations of others.

List of Illustrations.? Acknowledgements.? Introduction.? 1. The Novels? 2. Socialist Drama? 3. Tales for the Nursery? 4. The Virgin Mother? 5. Making the Skeleton Dance? 6. Man and Superman: Verbal Heroics? 7. John Bulls Other Island? 8. Major Barbara? 9. Problem Plays? 10. The Greek Form Again: Getting Married? 11. Shaw on the Tightrope: Misalliance? 12. Heartbreak House: Shaws Dream Play? 13. Back to Methuselah: The Poet and the City? 14. The Histories? 15. Farewell to Platonism: Too True to be Good? 16. Eschatological Plays? 17. Late Burlesques? 18. The Shavian Muse  In Conclusion.? Bibliographical Note: Shaw in the Sixties.? Index.

First published in 1972, Shaws plays are examined as self-contained imaginative structures intended for theatrical performance. Beginning with his novels, the book covers the whole span of Shaws career as a dramatist playing special attention to critically and theatrically neglected plays, and offering fresh interpretations of others.

Reviews for the original edition:

& an intelligent study of Shaws plays, early and late, which brings to the texts almost for the first time a proper respect for their literary qualities &
In nearly every case Miss Morgans reading of individual plays is enlightening; she simply takes more into account than previous critics of Shaw have done and goes a ll³X