The Dark Comedy

by J.L. Styan

Much of twentieth-century drama defies the traditional pigeon-holes of tragedy and the heroes are not straightforwardly heroic; the subject-matter seems at some times grimly realistic and at others nearer to pure fantasy. Professor Styan explains and illuminates the nature of this dark, paradoxical comedy. He reminds us, first, that this is not a purely modern many great plays of the past have similarly defied classification and have called for an equally vacillating response from their audience. But nonetheless this dramatic genre has had its clearest expression in the last sixty we are shown in detail how its techniques have developed from Ibsen and Chekhov to Pirandello, Brecht and contemporary playwrights such as Ionesco, Beckett, Tennessee Williams and Pinter. The author brings us to realize that the playwright, by creating complex tensions in the action of the play between the actor and the audience and within the individual spectator, is able to explore new areas of human feeling and response. In this second edition of The Dark Comedy Professor Styan has brought the book up to date in relation to recent plays and theatrical developments. He has modified some earlier judgements and added detailed analyses of scenes from Brecht's Mother Courage and from Beckett's Waiting for Godot. Anyone who takes an intelligent interest in theatre-going will find profit and stimulus in this book. It covers a wide range of subject-matter; but its underlying theme is clear, forceful and unified.

320 pages, Hardcover

First published July 1, 1968

Reviews

[Rebecca · Rating 3 out of 5]

I would say this book seems to be written for a more academic audience than the average casual reader. It is in that older academic style of writing that can me quite hard to follow at times.

That being said, it is clear that the author is passionate about theatre and has put a lot of time and effort into research and analysis.

I found it helpful as I’m currently researching comedy at grad school, but I would never suggest it to anyone as fun, light reading.

[Lorraine · Rating 2 out of 5]

I skimmed this. I don't have time to read books that are not rewarding. This was boring. It made vague generalisations (unhelpful ones) did not tell me much.... I daresay Bevis's Short Introduction to Comedy was a lot better and more interesting.

This book looks like something an unhappy professor from Lucky Jim or Porterhouse Blue might have bollocked up in one of his more put-upon days.

[Dagim Sisay · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good book

[Albie]

The dark comedy: The development of modern comic tragedy by J. L Styan (1979)