The theatre and films of Jez Butterworth / David Ian Rabey.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Rabey, David Ian, 1958- author.

Series:

Critical companions (London, England)

Critical companions (Methuen Drama)

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Dramatists, English--21st century.

Dramatists, English.

Butterworth, Jez--Criticism and interpretation.

Butterworth, Jez.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (viii, 225 pages).

Distribution:

London, England : Bloomsbury Publishing, 2020

Place of Publication:

London, England : Bloomsbury Methuen Drama, 2020.

Summary:

Jez Butterworth is the most critically acclaimed and commercially successful new British dramatist of the 21st century: his acclaimed play Jerusalem has had extended runs in the West End and on Broadway. This book is the first to examine Butterworth's writings for stage and film and to identify how and why his work appeals so widely and profoundly. It examines the way that he weaves suspenseful stories of eccentric outsiders, whose adventures echo widespread contemporary social anxieties, and involve surprising expressions of both violence and generosity. This book reveals how Butterworth unearths the strange forms of wildness and defiance lurking in the depths and at the edges of England: where unpredictable outbursts of humour highlight the intensity of life, and characters discover links between their haunting past and the uncertainties of the present, to create a meaningful future. Supplemented by essays from James D. Balestrieri and Elisabeth Angel-Perez, this is a clear and detailed source of reference for a new generation of theatre audiences, practitioners and directors who wish to explore the work of this seminal dramatist. --Provided by publisher.

Contents:

A prologue, with questions: 'The isle is full of noises ... '

Fairy tales of hard men: contextualizing Butterworth

themes, genres, styles, crises and settings

Mojo, Birthday Girl: what will happen?

The Night Heron: a noose of briars

The Winterling and Leavings: becoming a stranger

Parlour Song: men have their uses

Jerusalem: the keys to the forest

Fair Game, The River: hunter and game

Performance and critical perspectives

Inconclusion: burn the plans.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references (pages 217-218) and index.

OCLC:

1201426509