Description
Book Synopsis What you want to go back to is your clean, unashamed youth. And you can't.When Chance Wayne left the small town of St. Cloud, he did so with the ambition of being an actor: now, many years later, he returns as a gigolo and the companion of faded movie star Alexandra del Lago. But, can Chance convince the town he did actually make it big, and win over his childhood sweetheart? Or will the mistakes of his past punish him still?
Sweet Bird of Youth is Tennessee William's 1959 Broadway hit that explores the social and political climate of 1950s America, at a time where sexual freedom was a topical issue.This new edition includes an introduction by Alison Walls, that explores the play's production history as well as the dramatic, thematic, and academic debates that surround it; a must-have resource for any student exploring the play.
Table of ContentsChronology Introduction Development of the play (Williams's state of mind, process and different iterations; collaboration with Elia Kazan) Historical, Social and Cultural Contexts (segregation; sexual freedom; political climate; Williams's other plays) Characters (allegorical names; African-American characters) Setting (St. Cloud; hotel; Easter weekend) Style and language (poetic realism; imagery; music) Themes (corruption/purity; violence; religion; sex; race; beauty; public image; politics) Productions and response (original cast; subsequent notable productions; reviews; film adaptations) Academic Debate Further Study
Sweet Bird of Youth Notes
