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The Rise and Fall of the Well-Made Play: Routledge Revivals

Felix Hayes

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The well-made play was a dominant force in the theatre for over a century. It was a form of drama that was characterized by its tight construction, its focus on plot and character, and its adherence to the unities of time, place, and action. Well-made plays were often praised for their craftsmanship and their ability to entertain audiences. However, in recent decades, the popularity of the well-made play has declined. Contemporary audiences are no longer as interested in the kind of tightly plotted, character-driven dramas that were once so popular.

The Rise and Fall of the Well-Made Play (Routledge Revivals)

by John Russell Taylor

5 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	543 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Screen Reader	:	Supported
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
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Print length	:	176 pages

The Rise of the Well-Made Play

The well-made play emerged in the 19th century as a reaction to the excesses of romanticism. Romantic playwrights had focused on emotion and spectacle, and their plays were often sprawling and unfocused. The well-made play, on the other hand, was characterized by its tight construction and its focus on plot and character. Well-made plays were often set in a single location and followed a single storyline. The characters were well-developed and the action was carefully plotted. The result was a play that was both entertaining and thought-provoking.

The well-made play reached its peak in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Playwrights such as Henrik Ibsen, Anton Chekhov, and George Bernard Shaw wrote some of the most famous and enduring well-made plays. These plays were praised for their craftsmanship and their ability to entertain audiences. However, the popularity of the well-made play began to decline in the mid-20th century. Contemporary audiences were no longer as interested in the kind of tightly plotted, character-driven dramas that were once so popular.

The Fall of the Well-Made Play

There are a number of reasons for the decline of the well-made play. One reason is that contemporary audiences are more interested in plays that are more experimental and challenging. Well-made plays are often seen as being too formulaic and predictable. Another reason for the decline of the well-made play is that contemporary audiences are more interested in plays that are more relevant to their own lives. Well-made plays often focus on the lives of the upper classes, and they can seem out of touch with the experiences of ordinary people.

The decline of the well-made play is also due to the rise of new forms of drama. In the mid-20th century, playwrights such as Samuel Beckett and Harold Pinter began to experiment with new forms of drama that broke away from the conventions of the well-made play. These new forms of drama were more experimental and challenging, and they appealed to a new generation of audiences. The well-made play has not disappeared entirely, but it is no longer the dominant force in the theatre that it once was.

The Future of the Well-Made Play

The future of the well-made play is uncertain. It is possible that the well-made play will continue to decline in popularity, as audiences continue to embrace more experimental and challenging forms of drama. However, it is also possible that the well-made play will experience a revival in popularity. The well-made play is a well-crafted form of drama, and it is possible that audiences will come to appreciate it again.

The well-made play was a dominant force in the theatre for over a century, but its popularity has declined in recent decades. This essay has explored the reasons for this decline, arguing that the well-made play is no longer able to meet the needs of contemporary audiences. However, the future of the well-made play is uncertain. It is possible that the well-made play will continue to decline in popularity, but it is also possible that it will experience a revival.

The Rise and Fall of the Well-Made Play (Routledge Revivals)

by John Russell Taylor

5 out of 5