Subject
Families -- Drama Books
Best books
Henrik Ibsen
Ghosts
"Ghosts" by Henrik Ibsen is a play written in 1881. This controversial drama follows widow Helen Alving as she prepares to dedicate an orphanage in memory of her unfaithful late husband. When her son Oswald returns home, long-buried family secrets begin to surface, threatening to destroy the carefully maintained façade of respectability. The play explores the devastating consequences of following society's moral code, confronting taboo subjects that scandalized 19th-century audiences and challenged conventional notions of duty, truth, and maternal sacrifice.
Henrik Ibsen
Ghosts: A Domestic Tragedy in Three Acts
"Ghosts: A Domestic Tragedy in Three Acts" by Henrik Ibsen is a play written in 1881. Mrs. Alving prepares to dedicate an orphanage in memory of her late husband, concealing his scandalous past. When her son Oswald returns home, devastating secrets emerge about inheritance, forbidden love, and the consequences of upholding society's moral code. The play's frank treatment of taboo subjects sparked immediate controversy, yet it became recognized as a groundbreaking work that questioned whether following conventional morality leads to tragedy.
Noël Coward
Hay fever : $b A light comedy in three acts
"Hay Fever: A Light Comedy in Three Acts" by Noël Coward is a theatrical play written in the early 20th century. This comedy revolves around the interactions of a spirited family, the Blisses, who invite guests to their home over a weekend, leading to humorous misunderstandings and a chaotic atmosphere. The main characters include Judith Bliss, a once-celebrated actress, her two grown children Sorel and Simon, and their unexpected visitors, which set the stage for unfolding comedic tension. At the start of the play, the audience is introduced to the Bliss family through lively banter between Sorel and Simon as they prepare for the arrival of guests. Their mother, Judith, is seen admiring her garden and discussing her desire to return to the stage, indicating her restless spirit. As Sorel expresses a crush on a visitor named Richard Greatham, tension builds over the various dynamics and past relationships among the characters. The chaotic household is further compounded by Judith's flirtation with a younger man, Sandy Tyrell, who is also present for the weekend. This rich tapestry of comedic misunderstandings, quirky family dynamics, and romantic entanglements promises an entertaining exploration of social conventions and the complexities of family life.
Arno Holz
Die Familie Selicke: Drama in drei Aufzügen
"Die Familie Selicke: Drama in drei Aufzügen" by Arno Holz and Johannes Schlaf is a naturalistic drama first performed in 1890. On Christmas Eve, the Selicke family's dysfunction reaches a breaking point. An alcoholic, violent father, a self-pitying mother, and four suffering children collide in their cramped Berlin apartment. As the youngest daughter lies gravely ill, the eldest faces an impossible choice between love and duty. This unflinching portrait of working-class despair offers no easy resolutions.
Clemence Dane
A Bill of Divorcement: A Play in Three Acts
"A Bill of Divorcement: A Play in Three Acts" by Clemence Dane is a play first performed in 1921. Set in the early 1930s, the drama explores a controversial scenario: a woman divorcing her long-institutionalized husband to remarry. Their daughter must care for her father while confronting the possibility that his mental illness may be hereditary. The play imagines a future Britain where divorce is permitted on grounds of incurable insanity—a provocative premise that captivated audiences on both sides of the Atlantic and inspired three film adaptations.
Harold Brighouse
The Scaring off of Teddy Dawson: A Comedy in One Act
"The Scaring off of Teddy Dawson: A Comedy in One Act" by Harold Brighouse is a stage play written in the early 20th century. This comedic work presents a slice-of-life narrative about a working-class family in London's East End, exploring themes of courtship, parental control, and youthful romance. The play captures the dynamics between parents and their daughter as they navigate the turbulent waters of young love. The story revolves around the Bettesworth family, particularly focusing on their daughter Liza and her suitor, Teddy Dawson. As the play unfolds, Liza's father Andrew learns of her secret courtship and vows to scare off Teddy, whom he considers unsuitable. However, the matriarch, Polly, seeks a different approach, believing that a heavy-handed reprimand is not effective in deterring young love. The tension heightens as Teddy arrives to court Liza in the family home, with both parents wrestling with their protective instincts. In a twist of events, Polly cleverly maneuvers the situation to bring about a resolution that only increases Liza's attachment to her family. Ultimately, the play examines the complexities of love and parental relationships, ending on a note of humor and warmth as the family embraces the reality of growing up.
Henrik Ibsen
Spettri: dramma in tre atti
"Spettri: dramma in tre atti" by Henrik Ibsen is a play written in 1881. A widow prepares to dedicate an orphanage honoring her late husband, whose hidden transgressions she concealed to protect their son. As the dedication approaches, devastating revelations emerge about inherited disease, forbidden love, and a shocking family secret. When fire destroys the orphanage, Mrs. Alving faces an impossible moral choice that tests the limits of maternal devotion. Ibsen's controversial drama challenged 19th-century morality by exploring the consequences of upholding society's codes.
Eugene O'Neill
Gold : $b A play in four acts
"Gold: A Play in Four Acts" by Eugene O'Neill is a dramatic play written in the early 20th century. The narrative revolves around Captain Isaiah Bartlett and his crew as they find themselves marooned on a barren coral island in the Malay Archipelago after their whaling ship has sunk. Themes of desperation, madness, greed, and the moral consequences of their actions emerge as the characters grapple with the discovery of what they believe to be gold, leading to tragic decisions. The opening of the play introduces the dire situation faced by the characters, particularly focusing on the interactions between Abel, a young boy, and Butler, the ship's cook. As they lie in the oppressive heat and discuss their dwindling water supply, the tension builds around their hopeless environment. Soon, Captain Bartlett and his crew arrive, delirious with excitement over a treasure chest they have found. The air thickens with greed and suspicion as they debate the value of the items inside, leading to a volatility that hints at the potential for violence and betrayal. The conversations reveal not only their immediate struggles but also set up an exploration of deeper themes related to morality and the cost of ambition, establishing a tense atmosphere that propels the narrative forward.
Miles Malleson
The fanatics : $b A comedy in three acts
"The Fanatics: A Comedy in Three Acts" by Miles Malleson is a play written in the early 20th century. It explores complex themes of personal ambition, family tensions, and the search for meaning in a post-war society. The primary characters are Mr. Freeman, a concerned father, and his son John, who wrestles with his identity and aspirations against family expectations. The opening of the play introduces the Freeman family in their dining room, showcasing Mr. Freeman's growing concern over his son John, who is neglecting his work in favor of writing and music. As the family dynamic unfolds, we see John's struggles with his ambitions and relationships, particularly his engagement to Frankie. The dialogue reveals underlying tensions and hints at John's internal conflicts, setting the stage for a deeper exploration of the clash between societal expectations and personal desires. This initial act sets a humorous yet poignant tone, inviting the audience to reflect on the nature of love, duty, and individual fulfillment.
Fritz von Unruh
Ein Geschlecht: Tragödie
"Ein Geschlecht: Tragödie" by Fritz von Unruh is a dramatic play written during the early 20th century. This work encapsulates the harrowing experiences and emotional turmoil of a family torn apart by the impacts of war. The narrative unfolds on a mountain graveyard, where the characters grapple with profound themes of love, duty, guilt, and the human cost of conflict. The play centers around a mother and her children, who face the repercussions of war as they contend with the loss of loved ones and the moral dilemmas that arise from familial loyalty and national duty. The eldest son, burdened by the weight of war and its brutal realities, struggles with his identity and the expectations placed upon him by society. As the characters confront their intertwined fates amidst the madness of conflict, they too must reconcile their roles both within the family unit and in the broader context of national honor and sacrifice. The play explores the tension between the love of a mother for her children and the harsh demands of a militaristic society, ultimately portraying the tragedy of the human condition in the face of relentless external pressures.
Marco Praga
La moglie ideale: commedia in tre atti
"La moglie ideale: commedia in tre atti" by Marco Praga is a theatrical play likely written in the late 19th century. The story revolves around the intricate dynamics of marriage and infidelity, focusing on characters such as Andrea Campiani, a stockbroker, and his wife Giulia, who finds herself caught in a web of affection and moral dilemmas involving her admirer, Gustavo Velati. At the start of the play, the scene is set in Andrea's dining room, where a semblance of domestic normalcy prevails despite underlying tensions. The first act introduces Giulia, who is engaged in light banter with her husband and caring for their son, Giannino. The arrival of Gustavo Velati brings a shift in the atmosphere, suggesting a deeper connection between him and Giulia, which foreshadows complications in their relationships. The interplay of dialogue reveals hints of Giulia's discontent and the imbalance in her marriage, laying the groundwork for the unfolding drama as she navigates her dual roles as both wife and lover.
Henrik Ibsen
Gespenster: Ein Familiendrama in drei Aufzügen
"Gespenster: Ein Familiendrama in drei Aufzügen" by Henrik Ibsen is a play written in 1881. A widow prepares to open an asylum honoring her deceased husband's memory, while her son returns home after twenty years abroad. As Pastor Manders arrives to finalize arrangements, long-buried family secrets begin to surface. The household servant Regine becomes entangled in revelations about her true parentage, and the respected late Captain Alving's carefully constructed reputation starts to crumble, exposing the devastating consequences of hidden sins and social conventions.
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