Around the World in 21 Plays: Theatre for Young Audiences - Hardcover

In this book of short plays for "young audiences" (nearly all for teenagers), editor Lowell Swortzell carefully chooses plays that treat many different cultures with respect--yet still make exciting dramatic experiences. Ossie Davis's Escape to Freedom deals with racial relations; Maggie Magalita observes a Latino household where English has been decreed for the children--creating a rift with the grandparents. It's hard to imagine most teen groups wanting to do (or see) some of these plays, but Y York's [sic] Afternoon of the Elves (about girls' cliques) and Wiley and the Hairy Man (an exuberantly enacted fable) are so vivid, you'll want to read passages aloud--and so will your kids.

Grade 7-10. A collection of 21 short pieces that will appeal to young people. Each selection opens with introductory notes and information on stage-performance rights. Among the historical plays are Jack Juggler from England, short plays by Moliere and Gertrude Stein from France, August Strindberg's Lucky Peter's Journey from Sweden, and Langston Hughes's Soul Gone Home from the U.S. Contemporary plays by well-known playwrights such as Wendy Kesselman and Israel Horovitz, as well as Ossie Davis's Escape to Freedom are included. Several plays based on literature for young people, such as The Pinballs, Afternoon of the Elves, and Dragonwings round out the collection. A number of the selections feature social issues such as racism, the generation gap, poverty, and divorce. Others, such as A Visit from St. Nicholas, a play about the writing of the famous poem, and How to Write a Play are more lighthearted. An afterword gives a history of children's theater that will be useful for drama and English teachers, and a list of other plays young adults might like. With renewed interest in play reading, writing, and performance in secondary schools, this collection will be a valuable addition.?Barbara Chatton, College of Education, University of Wyoming, Laramie
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