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Political plays Books
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William Wells Brown
The Escape; Or, A Leap For Freedom: A Drama, in Five Acts
"The Escape; Or, A Leap For Freedom: A Drama, in Five Acts" by William Wells Brown is a play written in 1858. This pioneering work of African American dramatic literature tells the story of two enslaved people from different plantations who secretly marry. When the wife catches the dangerous attention of her owner, Dr. Gaines, and his jealous wife seeks deadly revenge, the couple must flee for their lives. Their desperate journey follows the North Star toward freedom in Canada, with slave hunters in close pursuit.
John Galsworthy
Strife: A Drama in Three Acts
"Strife: A Drama in Three Acts" by John Galsworthy is a play written in 1907 and first produced in 1909. At a tin plate factory on the England-Wales border, an unofficial strike drags on for months, causing desperate hardship among workers' families. As trade union representatives and company directors seek resolution, two uncompromising men face off: the elderly company chairman and the strike leader. Neither will yield, even as the human cost mounts around them. The confrontation forces everyone to question what price they're willing to pay for their principles.
Harold Brighouse
Three Lancashire Plays: The Game; The Northerners; Zack
"Three Lancashire Plays: The Game; The Northerners; Zack" by Harold Brighouse is a collection of plays written in the early 20th century. This work reflects on the changing dynamics of family, society, and personal aspirations within the context of early 20th-century Lancashire. The play "The Game" introduces characters that grapple with issues of identity, loyalty, and the pursuit of artistic and personal dreams against a backdrop of sporting culture. The opening of "The Game" sets the scene in a Lancashire household where Austin Whitworth’s family is eagerly anticipating a football match that holds significant stakes for their beloved local team, Blackton Rovers. The dialogue flows between Austin, his brother Edmund, and his children Leo, Florence, and Elsie, creating an atmosphere filled with playful banter and underlying tension regarding a recent transfer of star footballer Jack Metherell. As the narrative unfolds, the family's varying engagement with football and issues of loyalty, ambition, and societal expectations become apparent, highlighting contrasting generational perspectives while alluding to deeper emotional currents surrounding love and family ties.
Jack Preston
The Donkey, the Elephant, and the Goat at a Public Meeting
"The Donkey, the Elephant, and the Goat at a Public Meeting" by J. P. Buschlen is a satirical play written in the early 20th century. This light-hearted piece uses animal characters—symbolizing political parties—to explore themes of politics and social issues of the time. The donkey typically represents the Democratic Party, while the elephant symbolizes the Republican Party, with the goat introduced as a voice for the farmers and workers' political concerns. In this play, the audience watches a public meeting with the elephant and donkey debating fiercely while the goat interjects with criticisms and calls for attention to the struggles of the common people. The elephant boasts of its lineage and achievements, the donkey counters with its own claims to power and respectability, and the goat represents the oppressed workers and farmers fighting for their rights. Through witty dialogue and rhymes, Buschlen critiques the political establishment and urges for recognition of the working class's needs, ultimately underscoring the absurdity of political rivalry and the necessity for unity in addressing socio-economic issues. The play ends on a hopeful note, advocating for humor and resilience in the face of unfavorable circumstances.
Francis Beaumont
A King, and No King
"A King, and No King" by Francis Beaumont and John Fletcher is a tragicomedy written in 1611. King Arbaces returns victorious from war, only to discover an overwhelming and forbidden attraction to his sister Panthea, whom he hasn't seen since childhood. As he struggles desperately against his incestuous passion, political intrigue and questions of royal legitimacy swirl around him. The play explores themes of self-control, identity, and the consequences of absolute power, while keeping audiences guessing until a surprising revelation changes everything.
Henrik Ibsen
La lega dei giovani : $b commedia in cinque atti
"La lega dei giovani" by Henrik Ibsen is a play finished in early 1869. Stensgaard, a charismatic political opportunist, forms the League of Youth and promises to sweep away corruption from the old guard. But his ambitions entangle him in layers of social and romantic scheming that grow increasingly complex. Written in colloquial prose rather than verse, this witty comedy marked a turning point toward realism in Ibsen's work. Its debut performance drew applause, but the second sparked such controversy that fighting erupted in the theater and spilled into the streets.
John Galsworthy
Taistelu
"Taistelu" by John Galsworthy is a three-act play produced in 1909. At a tin plate factory, an unofficial strike has dragged on for months, bringing hardship to workers' families. As directors and trade union representatives seek resolution, an intense confrontation erupts between the unyielding company chairman and the strike's defiant leader. Both men refuse to compromise, even as suffering mounts around them. The battle becomes not just about demands and wages, but about power, principle, and the human cost of absolute conviction.
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