Orson Welles on Shakespeare ― The W.P.A. and Mercury Theatre Playscripts

"This fascinating work will prove valuable for collections in film, theater history, and Shakespearean production. . . . The book includes fascinating production photos and helpful notes in which the original acts and scenes are identified, thus showing the extent to which Welles rearranged Shakespeare by shuffling acts and scenes, dropping characters, and by merging related narratives. . . . Recommended for all libraries." Choice This first publication of the annotated playscripts of Welles' adaptations of Shakespearean plays he produced in the 30s contains texts for "Voodoo" Macbeth (1936), the modern dress Julius Caesar (1937), and the Five Kings (1939). These adaptations were used at the W.P.A.'s Federal Theatre Project and the Mercury Theatre. A general introduction provides background information on the plays, their productions, the sociopolitical climate of the 30s, and Welles' synthesis of art and popular culture.

RICHARD FRANCE teaches at the University of Southern California. His many plays includeThe Image of Elmo Doyle, contained in the Best Short Plays of 1979, the dramitization ofOne Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich, and Station J, winner of the 1982 Silver PEN award. He has previously taught at Brown University and Lawrence University and his bookThe Theatre of Orson Welles was a Choice selection for Most Outstanding Academic Books of 1978.