This collection focuses on Molieres theatre as works to be performed as well as read. The essays deal in their various ways with limits which are imposed and respected or violated and broken. The question of transgression both as a subject within Molieres plays and as a dilemma confronting Molieres critics and interpreters is addressed. The book aims to enlarge the scope of academic scholarship and include the thinking and insights of actors.
#4481949 in eBooks 1998-04-29 1998-04-29File Name: B000OI0ZKI
Review
16 of 17 people found the following review helpful. A Wealth of American Theater HistoryBy Luane Ruth DavisI greeted the publication of Nancy Lee Chalfa Ruytersnewest addition to the information of Francois Delsarte withenthusiasm and was pleased to find the book even better than I had hoped. Delsartes theories are an especial passion of mine and presently all printed materials on his work are out of print and accessible only through intimate familiarity with the reference sections of the library. In THE CULTIVATION OF BODY AND MIND IN NINETEENTH CENTURY AMERICAN DELSARTISM Ms. Ruyter has compiled a very though and easily followed chronology of the development of the Delsarte theory as it grew in the American social climate of the late Nineteenth century. In case this makes you think the book is a dry reference text let me assure you that the writing style is able to express the authors clearly twentieth century point of view and sense of humor without blurring the accuracy of the factual information. In short: fascinating information with a compelling writing style. She has something to say and knows how to put it! I am presently the Artistic Director of Interborough Repertory Theater (IRT) in New York Citys Greenwich Village. For the past 7 years we have been developing a project called Del-Sign ; a combination of Francois Delsartes techniques and American Sign Language (ASL).. The development process has required me to do some very deep research into the American Delsarte movement and I am very familiar with the more obvious references such as: EVERY LITTLE MOVEMENT by Ted Shawn; THE ESSENTIAL DELSARTE by John W. Torn; THE ACTORS ART Edited by Sir John Alexander Hammerton as well as texts from the era such as THE AMERICAN STAR SPEAKER by Charles Walter Brown. A recent trip to Paris; France exposed me to other European references as well. So it is from a relatively informed perspective that I wholeheartedly recommend Ms. Ruyters addition to this body of knowledge. Her work is informative; entertaining and detailed. She has added a great deal to my studies and has given me new insights to work with. There is a unique perspective here too for those interested in "womens issues" such as: social manners of the era; treatment of women in society or the blossoming of athleticism for women at the run of the century. This is a book well worth the cover price. (Luane Ruth Davis is an Assistant Professor in the Cultural and Creative Studies Department of the National Technical Institute for the Deaf (NTID) and the Artistic Director of the Interborough Repertory Theater(IRT).