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A Pocket Guide to Ibsen Chekhov and Strindberg
By Michael Pennington and Stephen Unwin
Faber and Faber £8.99
266 pages
Dateline: 4th April, 2005
This review has to start with a brief apology to the Fabers. I have
been regularly dipping into this book as plays by the trio appear and
never quite got around to writing the review.
The formula is now familiar as English Touring Theatre artistic director
Stephen Unwin has developed quite a nice little sideline in Pocket Guides.
His collaborator this time around is the very distinguished actor Michael
Pennington, who has previously written about his experiences playing
Chekhov.
This triple book is presumably justified on the basis that it might
be difficult to fill a saleable work about any one of the individuals.
However, while it covers thirteen Ibsen's and most of the less prolific
Chekhov, there are a mere five plays by Strindberg.
The omissions can be frustrating when one is trying to find out about
or relive a theatrical experience. Ibsen's Brand, so memorably
brought to the stage by Ralph Fiennes is missing, as, rather more justifiably
is Easter, a rather obscure Strindberg just resuscitated
by Dominic Dromgoole for the Oxford Stage Company.
It almost goes without saying that what is included is excellent. Following
an introduction, each of the writers gets a brief biography. The general
writing also includes a chapter entitled "The Legacy" that
sets the trio in context, demonstrating that, in particular, Bernard
Shaw was heavily influenced by Ibsen and Chekhov and that Strindberg
has had a significant impact on, amongst others, the surprising combination
of Eugene O'Neill, John Osborne, Samuel Beckett and Patrick Marber.
This is complemented by a chronicle of plays written in the period 1865-1914
that makes fascinating and enlightening reading.
The core of the book, though, is the summary and analysis of the plays.
This covers characters, the story, a section "About the Play"
providing critical analysis and context, and a section on the play "In
Performance".
These books are all well-written and serve their purpose perfectly.
This one will prove immensely useful to students, actors and directors,
theatre-goers and dare one suggest it, critics. Next up is Bertolt Brecht.
You
can buy A
Pocket Guide to Ibsen Chekhov and Strindberg from our Bookshop
for £7.19
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