Synopses & Reviews
The latest collection of the plays of JB Priestley, famed 20th century playwright and novelist. These two little known plays, while quite different, have important features in common.
The 31st of June is a comedy set partly in an advertising agency and partly in a medieval castle and Jenny Villiers is a serious play set backstage in an old provincial theatre, but both plays exploit elements of time. In The 31st of June scenes switch between modern times and the middle ages, while characters move between both. There are kings, company bosses, princesses, fashion models, dwarfs and two rival magicians. causing confusion and romance. Jenny Villiers examines life in the theatre. The doubts of the present are confronted by players from the past, and a jaded playwright recovers his faith in the theatre. Both plays were performed on the stage, but later rewritten and published as novels.
Synopsis
The fourth volume of JB Priestley plays from Oberon Books includes 31st June and Jenny Villiers.
Synopsis
Two little known Priestley plays, which, while they are quite different, have important features in common.
The 31st of June is a comedy set partly in an advertising agency and partly in a medieval castle; Jenny Villiers is a serious play set backstage in an old provincial theatre. But both exploit elements of Time. In the 31st of June scenes switch between modern times and the middle ages, while characters move between both. There are kings, company bosses, princesses, fashion models, dwarves and two rival magicians. causing confusion and romance.
Jenny Villiers examines life in the Theatre. The doubts of the present are confronted by players from the past, and a jaded playwright recovers his faith in the Theatre. Both plays were performed on the stage, but later rewritten and published as novels.
Synopsis
The latest collection of the plays of JB Priestley, famed 20th century playwright and novelist. 31st June is a satirical fable about an artist in an advertising agency who is spirited off to the kingdom of Peradore in Arthurian England. In Jenny Villiers: a ghost story of the theatre, a dispirited playwright experiences visions of a 19th century tragedy.
About the Author
J.B. Priestley: Born in Bradford, he was educated there and at Trinity Hall, Cambridge. His reputation as a dramatist was established by
Dangerous Corner, Time and the Conways and other plays on space-time themes, as well as popular comedies such as
Laburnum Grove and his psychological mystery,
An Inspector Calls. Best known as a writer of novels, Priestley was also master of the essay form. He was an astute, original and controversial commentator on contemporary society.