DRAMA for Students National Advisory Board Susan Allison: Head Librarian, Lewiston High conut Grove, Florida. B.A. from University of School, Lewiston, Maine. Standards Committee Detroit, 1967 (magna cum laude); M.L.S., Uni- Chairperson for Maine School Library (MASL) versity of Missouri–Columbia, l974. Volunteer Programs. Board member, Julia Adams Morse Project Leader for a school in rural Jamaica; vol- Memorial Library, Greene, Maine. Advisor to unteer with Adult Literacy programs. Lewiston Public Library Planning Process. Laurie St. Laurent: Head of Adult and Children’s Jennifer Hood: Young Adult/Reference Librarian, Services, East Lansing Public Library, East Cumberland Public Library, Cumberland, Rhode Lansing, Michigan, 1994–. M.L.S. from West- Island. Certified teacher, Rhode Island. Member ern Michigan University. Chair of Michigan of the New England Library Association, Rhode Library Association’s 1998 Michigan Summer Island Library Association, and the Rhode Is- Reading Program; Chair of the Children’s Ser- land Educational Media Association. vices Division in 2000–2001; and Vice-President of the Association in 2002–2003. Board mem- Ann Kearney: Head Librarian and Media Special- ber of several regional early childhood literacy ist, Christopher Columbus High School, Miami, organizations and member of the Library of Florida, 1982–2002. Thirty-two years as Librar- Michigan Youth Services Advisory Committee. ian in various educational institutions ranging from grade schools through graduate programs. Heidi Stohs: Instructor in Language Arts, grades Library positions at Miami-Dade Community 10–12, Solomon High School, Solomon, Kansas. College, the University of Miami’s Medical Received B.S. from Kansas State University; School Library, and Carrollton School in Co- M.A. from Fort Hays State University. Table of Contents GUEST FOREWORD “The Study of Drama” by Carole L. Hamilton . ix INTRODUCTION . xi LITERARY CHRONOLOGY . xv ACKNOWLEDGMENTS . xvii CONTRIBUTORS . xix Alison’s House (by Susan Glaspell) . 1 Author Biography . 2 Plot Summary . 2 Characters . 5 Themes . 7 Style . 10 Historical Context . 10 Critical Overview . 12 Criticism . 13 Further Reading . 21 ARDEN OF FAVERSHAM (by Anonymous) . 22 Author Biography . 23 Plot Summary . 23 Characters . 27 Themes . 30 Style . 31 Historical Context . 32 Critical Overview . 34 v Table of Contents Criticism . 35 Plot Summary . 132 Further Reading . 44 Characters . 135 Themes . 135 THE AU PAIR MAN Style . 136 (by Hugh Leonard) . 45 Historical Context . 136 Author Biography . 45 Critical Overview . 137 Plot Summary . 46 Criticism . 139 Characters . 48 Further Reading . 149 Themes . 49 Style . 51 INDIANS Historical Context . 52 (by Arthur Kopit) . 150 Critical Overview . 54 Author Biography . 151 Criticism . 55 Plot Summary . 151 Further Reading . 68 Characters . 154 Themes . 156 DIRTY BLONDE Style . 158 (by Claudia Shear) . 69 Historical Context . 159 Author Biography . 69 Critical Overview . 160 Plot Summary . 70 Criticism . 161 Characters . 73 Further Reading . 171 Themes . 74 Style . 76 INDISCRETIONS Historical Context . 77 (by Jean Cocteau) . 173 Critical Overview . 79 Author Biography . 173 Criticism . 80 Plot Summary . 175 Further Reading . 89 Characters . 177 Themes . 179 THE EXONERATED Style . 180 (by Erik Jensen) . 90 Historical Context . 182 Author Biography . 91 Critical Overview . 184 Plot Summary . 92 Criticism . 186 Characters . 95 Further Reading . 196 Themes . 96 Style . 97 A LESSON FROM ALOES Historical Context . 98 (by Athol Fugard) . 197 Critical Overview . 99 Author Biography . 197 Criticism . 100 Plot Summary . 198 Further Reading . 109 Characters . 200 Themes . 201 THE FORC’D MARRIAGE Style . 202 (by Aphra Behn) . 111 Historical Context . 202 Author Biography . 112 Critical Overview . 204 Plot Summary . 112 Criticism . 205 Characters . 116 Further Reading . 219 Themes . 118 Style . 119 THE PRISONER OF SECOND AVENUE Historical Context . 120 (by Neil Simon) . 220 Critical Overview . 122 Author Biography . 220 Criticism . 123 Plot Summary . 221 Further Reading . 130 Characters . 223 Themes . 224 INADMISSIBLE EVIDENCE Style . 225 (by John Osborne) . 131 Historical Context . 225 Author Biography . 131 Critical Overview . 226 vi Drama for Students Table of Contents Criticism . 227 Characters . 266 Further Reading . 241 Themes . 268 Style . 270 TAKE ME OUT Historical Context . 270 (by Richard Greenberg) . 242 Critical Overview . 272 Author Biography . 243 Criticism . 272 Plot Summary . 243 Further Reading . ..