Synopses & Reviews
The Thand#233;and#226;tre du Grand-Guignol in Paris (1897-1962) achieved a legendary reputation as the 'Theatre of Horror,' a venue displaying such explicit violence and blood-curdling terror that a resident doctor was employed to treat the numerous spectators who fainted each night. Indeed, the phrase 'grand guignol' has entered the language to describe any display of sensational horror.and#160;Since the theatre closed its doors forty years ago, the genre has been overlooked by critics and theatre historians. This book reconsiders the importance and influence of the Grand-Guignol within its social, cultural and historical contexts, and is the first attempt at a major evaluation of the genre as performance. It gives full consideration to practical applications and to the challenges presented to the actor and director.and#160;The book also includes oustanding new translations by the authors of ten Grand-Guignol plays, none of which have been previously available in English. The presentation of these plays in English for the first time is an implicit demand for a total reappraisal of the grand-guignol genre, not least for the unexpected inclusion of two very funny comedies.
Synopsis
Since The Th tre du Grand-Guignol closed its doors forty years ago, the genre has been overlooked by critics and theatre historians. This book reconsiders the importance and influence of the Grand-Guignol within its social, cultural and historical contexts, and is the first attempt at a major evaluation of the genre as performance.
About the Author
Mike Wilson is Professor of Drama at the University of Glamorgan. He is author of Performance and Practice: Oral Narrative Traditions among Teenagers in Britain and Ireland (Ashgate, 1997). Richard Hand is a Principal Lecturer in Drama at the University of Glamorgan. He is also assistant editor and translator of Naturalism and Symbolism in European Theatre, 1850 - 1918(CUP, 1996).
Table of Contents
JACK! (LUI!)
by Oscar Mand#233;tand#233;nier
THE ULTIMATE TORTURE (LA DERNIand#200;RE TORTURE)
by Andrand#233; de Lorde and Eugand#200;ne Morel
THE LIGHTHOUSEKEEPERS (GARDIENS DE PHARE)
by Paul Autier and Paul Colquemin
CHOP-CHOP! (LA VEUVE)
by Eugand#200;ne Hand#233;ros and Land#233;on Abric
TICS! OR DOING THE DEED (APRand#200;S COUP OU TICS)
by Renand#233; Berton
IN THE DARKROOM (SOUS LA LUMIand#200;RE ROUGE)
by Maurice Level and Etienne Rey
THE FINAL KISS (LE BAISER DANS LA NUIT)
by Maurice Level
THE TORTURE GARDEN (LE JARDIN DES SUPPLICES)
by Pierre Chaine and Andrand#233; de Lorde
EUTHANASIA (Land#8217;EUTHANASIE)
by Renand#233; Berton
THE KISS OF BLOOD (LE BAISER DE SANG)
by Jean Aragny and Francis Nelson