Staging Politics and Gender French Womens Drama, 18801923 [Paperback]

In Staging Politics and Gender , Cecilia Beach examines the political and feminist plays of French playwrights who have largely been overlooked until now. Beach highlights the importance of theatrical endeavors which women perceived as a powerful way to promote political opinions. The author analyzes the work of Louise Michel, Nelly Roussel, Marie Leneru, Vera Starkoff, and Madeline Pelletier and discusses anarchist theatre and forms of social protest theatre at the turn of the century.Introduction: Theatre, Politics and Gender Staging the Revolution; L.Michel Feminism and Free-thinkers; N.Roussel Theatre of a TolstoIenne; V.Starkoff Braving the Law; M.Pelletier Theatre of Ideas; M.Len?ru Conclusion

In Staging Politics and Gender, Cecilia Beach paints a vivid picture of the culture of radical politics in Paris during the period 1880 to 1923. Chapters on early feminists Louise Michel, Madeleine Pelletier, Nelly Roussel, V?ra Starkoff, and Marie Len?ru describe and analyze long forgotten dramatic works that were performed for popular audiences. What these agitprop, thesis plays, and plays of social protest have in common is the goal of creating a more egalitarian secular society in which women have control over their sexuality, reproductive and maternal rights, protection against domestic violence, and the right to divorce. The exhaustive and meticulous research that went into writing this illuminating study prepares Beach to place first-wave feminism in its historical context and to explain how militant activists used drama to fight for women's rights. - Jane Moss, Robert E. Diamond Professor of French and Women's Studies, Colby College

Through patient and original research, Celia Beach does an inspiring job of filling in the history of women in French theatre from the 1880s to just after World War I. Her broad-based study identifies five activist, often fiery, playwrights: Louis Michel, Nelly Roussel, Vera Starkoff, Madeleine Pelletier, l.