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University Microfilms International 300 North Zeeb Road Ann Arbor, Michigan 48106 USA St. John's Road, Tyler’s Green High Wycombe, Bucks, England HP10 8HR l 77-31,973 SHEA, Maureen Ann, 1950* THE PLAYWRITING TECHNIQUE OF S. N. BEHRMAN: THE THEATRE GUILD YEARS, 1927-1938. The Ohio State University, Ph.D., 1977 Theater University Microfilms International t Ann Arbor, Michigan 48106 Copyright by Maureen Ann Shea 1977 THE PLAYWRITING TECHN IQ.UE OF S. N. BEHRMAN: THE THEATRE GUILD YEARS, 1927-1938 DISSERTATION Presented in P artial Fulfillm ent of the Requirements for the Degree Doctor of Philosophy in the Graduate School of The Ohio State University By Maureen Ann Shea, B.A., M.A. •j- The Ohio State University 1977 Read i ng Commi ttee: Approved By Roy H. Bower Alan L. Woods John C. Morrow ✓^Advi ser Department of Theatre For My Parents i i ACKNOWLEDGMENTS I wish to acknowledge my considerable debt to Dr. Roy H. Bowen, Dr Alan L. Woods, and Dr. John C. Morrow. Their liberal guidance and constructive c ritic is m were invaluable to the progress of this study. Through his example as a stage d irector and teacher, Dr. Bowen has been a constant source of encouragement, and for having experienced his wisdom, patience, and felicity, I am extremely grateful. I am indebted to the s ta ff of the Wisconsin State H istorical Socie for their efficiency in providing Behrman's manuscripts. For allowing me to participate in the film ing of Behrman's End of Summer for PBS's "Theater in America" series, I wish to express my gratitude to Dr. Alan L. Woods, Dr. John A. Walker, Dr. George E. Bogusch, Richard G. Fallon, and the s ta ff of the Charles MacArthur Center for American Theatre in Tallahassee, Florida. Also, my thanks to Robert F. Gross, J r., who generously assisted me in the task of transcribing Behrman's notes and correspondence. Special mention should also be made of the Gross family for their grace and hospi t a li ty. F in a lly , help and encouragement came from my family and friends, to whom I extend my sincere appreciation and love. VITA December 29, 1950 ................................... Born - Worcester, Massachusetts 1972 ................................................................. B.A., Clark University, Worcester, Massachusetts 1973 ................................................................. M.A., University of Connecticut, Storrs, Connecticut 1973-1977 .................................................. Teaching Associate, Department of Theatre, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio PUBLICATIONS "Nance O'Neil: Power and Passion on the American Stage." Theatre Studies 21 (197^): 61—69• FIELDS OF STUDY Theatre History ............................................................ Alan L. Woods Alfred S. Golding Theatre Production .................................................. Roy H. Bowen Dramatic Literature £• Criticism ................... John C. Morrow Donald R. Glancy TABLE OF CONTENTS Page DEDICATION.................................................................................................................................. ii ACKNOWLEDGMENTS.................................................................................................................. i ii VITA ................................................................................................................................................ iv Chapter I. INTRODUCTION Review of Previous Literature ....................................................... 1 Scope and Purpose ..................................................................................... 5 Biographical Data and Influences ............................................. 6 I I . THE SECOND MAN Literary Sources ..................................................................................... 28 First-Draft Synopsis ........................................................................... 36 R e v is io n s ......................................................................................................... kS C o n c lu s io n ............................................................................... 57 I I I . METEOR Literary Sources ..................................................................................... 60 First-Draft Synopsis ........................................................................... 67 Character Prototypes ........................................................................... 78 R e v is io n s ......................................................................................................... 85 C o n c lu s io n .................................................................................................... 102 ! V. BIOGRAPHY Literary Sources ..................................................................................... 108 Character Prototypes ........................................................................... 110 F irs t-D ra ft Synopsis ........................................................................... 136 R e v is io n s ......................................................................................................... 151 C o n c lu s io n .................................................................................................... 160 V. RAIN FROM HEAVEN Literary Sources ..................................................................................... 163 Character Prototypes ........................................................................... 169 F irs t-D ra ft Synopsis ........................................................................... I 98 R e v is io n s ......................................................................................................... 207 C o n c lu s io n .................................................................................................... 217 v VI. END OF SUMMER Literary Sources ..................................................................................... 219 Character Prototypes ........................................................................... 226 F irs t-D ra ft Synopsis ........................................................................... 250 R e v i s i o n s .................................................................................................... 253 C onclusion.................................................................................................... 267 VI L WINE OF CHOICE Literary Sources ..................................................................................... 270 Character Prototypes ........................................................................... 27^f F irs t-D ra ft Synopsis ........................................................................... 293 R e v i s i o n s .................................................................................................... 299 C onclusion.................................................................................................... 316 CONCLUSIONS............................................................................................................................. 318 BIBLIOGRAPHY ........................................................................................................................ 330 APPENDIX .................................................................................................................................. 338 VL CHAPTER 1 INTRODUCTION The hardest thing in the world— to w rite a play. Behrman, End of Summer Notebook, p. 37* The playw riting career of S. N. Behrman has been studied by various scholars in dissertations ranging in approach