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FEMINIST THEATRICAL REVISIONS OF CLASSIC WORKS. Edited by Sharon Friedman. Jefferson, NC: McFarland, 2009; pp. x + 290. $45.00 paper.
In her introduction to Feminist Theatrical Revisions of Classic Works, Sharon Friedman observes that theatrical productions of canonical dramatic and literary works have become mainstays of feminist theatre. This marriage seems unlikely: classic works are almost unfailingly uniform in their portrayals of women as weak, subservient, and docile; the female characters who break these molds are usually punished, reformed, or derided. Friedmans collection of essays provides analyses of feminist re-presentations of some of the classics that most trouble feminist audiences, revealing how feminist artists have challenged the conventional portrayal of women in these texts.
Friedmans work, however, is not merely comprised of extended critical descriptions of a few select productions; instead, the essays aspire to a greater purpose: prompting artists to reconsider the canon as a rich source of dialogue, rather than apologizing for the works sometimes antiquated and socially irrelevant or even offensive content. Each essay first identifies a production that examined issues of importance to a contemporary feminist audience, and then seeks to illustrate the significance of historical moment, cultural ideology, dramaturgical practice, and theatrical venue for...