A Midsummer Night's Dream (The New Cambridge Shakespeare)

by WilliamShakespeare (Author), R.A.Foakes (Editor)

• Used

  Paperback
  1984

  $3.80

  Professor Foakes offers a new perspective on what is perhaps Shakespeare's most popular comedy, and also a profound, archetypal play. The introduction describes the two main traditions in the stage history of A Midsummer Night's Dream, one emphasising charm and innocence, the other stressing darker suggestions of violence and sexuality, and relates them to similar traditions in critical interpretation, showing that both are necessary to a full understanding of the play. A number of illustrations show the variety of ways in which the play has been staged, including Peter Brook's 1970 production. The concise editorial commentary is especially concerned to help the reader visualise the play in performance.

• Used

  Paperback
  2005

  $3.25

  This edition of A Midsummer Night's Dream is part of the groundbreaking Cambridge School Shakespeare series established by Rex Gibson. Remaining faithful to the series' active approach it treats the play as a script to be acted, explored and enjoyed. As well as the complete script of the play, you will find a variety of classroom-tested activities, an eight-page colour section and a selection of notes including information on characters, performance, history and language.

• New

  Paperback
  1996

  $36.50

  This is a detailed account of the theatrical fortunes of A Midsummer Night's Dream on the British stage, from the 1590s to the 1990s. The substantial, illustrated introduction traces the rise of the play from theatrical neglect in the eighteenth century through the spectacular productions of the nineteenth century to its current high status. The authoritative New Cambridge Shakespeare text of the play is accompanied by notes on actors' interpretations, settings and textual alterations. The author considers the cultural changes which have affected the play's popularity as well as the conceptions of individual directors from David Garrick and George Colman, via Madame Vestris and Beerbohm Tree, Granville Barker and W. Bridges Adams to Peter Brook, Robert Lepage and Adrian Noble. The book shows theatre history as cultural history. It will be invaluable to students of Shakespeare in performance at graduate level, working in departments of English or drama/theatre and to those intrigued by the changing reputation of Shakespeare.