Theatre, Culture and Temperance Reform in Nineteenth-Century America [Hardcover]

This book examines the role of temperance drama in American theatre and compares the American genre to its British counterpart.Nineteenth-century America witnessed a full-blown movement against alcohol and the temperance cause became a national concern. As part of the temperance movement a new genre of theatrical literature and performance developed, both professional and amateur, to help spread the message. John Frick examines the role of temperance drama in the overall scheme of American nineteenth-century theatre, taking examples from both mainstream productions and amateur theatricals. Frick also compares the American genre to its British counterpart.Nineteenth-century America witnessed a full-blown movement against alcohol and the temperance cause became a national concern. As part of the temperance movement a new genre of theatrical literature and performance developed, both professional and amateur, to help spread the message. John Frick examines the role of temperance drama in the overall scheme of American nineteenth-century theatre, taking examples from both mainstream productions and amateur theatricals. Frick also compares the American genre to its British counterpart.John Frick examines the role of temperance drama in the overall scheme of American nineteenth-century theatre, using examples from mainstream productions and amateur theatricals. Nineteenth-century America witnessed a major movement against alcohol consumption when the temperance cause became one of national concern. As part of the temperance movement, a new genre of theatrical literature and performance developed, professional as well as amateur, to help publicize its beliefs. Frick also compares the American genre to its British counterpart.List of figures; Acknowledgements; Introduction: A complex causality of neglect; 1. 'He drank from the poisoned cup': temperance reform in nineteenth-century America; 2. 'Nine-tenths of all kindness &': literature, the theatre, and the spirit of reforml“