Cold War Theatre

211 Pages·1992·8.848 MB·English

by  John Elsom

Routledge Revivals
Cold War Theatre
Cold War Theatre, first published in 1992, provides an account of the thea
trical history within the context of East/West politics. Its geographical span
ranges from beyond the Urals to the Pacific Coast of the US, and asks whether
the Cold War confrontation was not in part due to the cultural climate of
Europe.
Taking the McCarthy era as its starting point, this readable history considers
the impact of the Cold War upon the major dramatic movements of our time,
East and West. The author poses the question as to whether European habits
of mind, fostered by their cultures, may not have contributed to the political
stalemates of the Cold War.
A wide range of actors from both the theatrical and political stages are dis
cussed, and their contributions to the theatre of the Cold War examined in a
hugely enjoyable and enlightening narrative. This book is ideal for theatre
studies students.
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Cold War Theatre
John Elsom
REVROUTLEDGEJVA LS RTayolour&tFlreandcisgGero up
First published in 1992
by Routledge
This edition first published in 2015 by Routledge
2 Park Square, Milton Park, Abingdon, Oxon, OX14 4RN
and by Routledge
711 Third Avenue, New York, NY 10017
Routledge is an imprint of the Taylor & Francis Group, an informa business
© 1992 John Elsom
The right of John Elsom to be identified as author of this work has been asserted by him
in accordance with sections 77 and 78 of the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988.
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reprinted or reproduced or utilised in
any form or by any electronic! mechanical, or other means, now known or hereafter
invented, including photocopying and recording, or in any information storage or
retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publishers.
Publisher's Note
The publisher has gone to great lengths to ensure the quality of this reprint but points
out that some imperfections in the original copies may be apparent.
Disclaimer
The publisher has made every effort to trace copyright holders and welcomes
correspondence from those they have been unable to contact.
A Library of Congress record exists under LC control number: 910471 04
ISBN 13: 978-1-138-83902-1 (hbk)
ISBN 13: 978-1-315-73366-1 (ebk)
ISBN 13: 978-1-138-83903-8 (pbk)
COLD WAR
THEATRE
John Eisom
R
O
U
T
L
E
D
G
E
London and New York
First published 1992
by Routledge
11 New Fetter Lane, London EC4P 4EE
Simultaneously published in the USA and Canada
by Routledge
a division of Routledge, Chapman and Hall, Inc.
29 West 35th Street, New York, NY 10001
© 1992 John Elsom
Typeset in Palatino by
Falcon Typographic Art Ltd, Fife, Scotland
Printed and bound in Great Britain by
Clays Ltd, St Ives pIc
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reprinted or
reproduced or utilized in any form or by any electronic,
mechanical, or other means, now known or hereafter
invented, including photocopying and recording, or in any
information storage or retrieval system, without permission in
writing from the publishers.
British Library Cataloguing in Publication Data
Elsom, John.
Cold war theatre.
I. Title
792.09
Library of Congress Cataloging in Publication Data
Elsom, John
Cold War theatrelJohn Elsom.
p. cm.
Includes bibliographical references and index.
1. Theater - History - 20th century. 2. Theater - Political aspects.
I. Title.
PN2189.E45 1992
792'.09'045 - dc20 91-47104
ISBN 0-415-00167-6
0-415-08108-4 (pbk)
To Sarah and Thomas
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CONTENTS
Acknowledgements ix
1 THE CONSCIENCE OF A DIPLOMAT:
AN INTRODUCTION 1
2 THE TRIAL OF ARTHUR MILLER 13
3 BINKIE BEAUMONT'S WEST END 25
4 THE HEAT IN BRECHT'S COOLNESS 37
5 AT THE BACK OF THE MIND 49
6 OLIVIER PASSES THE BATON 61
7 THE VELVET PRISON 73
8 THE SECULAR BAPTIST 85
9 THE AGE OF AQUARIUS 97
10 THE FLOATING ISLAND 109
11 TOWARDS MUSIC 120
12 THE NATIONAL THEATRE IS YOURS 132
13 BROADWAY BABIES 144
14 THE UNRAVELLING 156
15 THEME AND EXPOSITION 168
Notes 180
Index 186