Alison's House
Encyclopedia
Alison's House is a drama in three acts by American playwright
Susan Glaspell
.
It was first produced at Eva Le Gallienne
's Civic Repertory Theatre on 14th Street, New York, on 1 December 1930 where it was given 25 performances in the regular repertory season when, unexpectedly, it was awarded the Pulitzer Prize for Drama
in 1931. In May 1931 the production was transferred uptown to the Ritz Theatre where it received indifferent reviews and closed after two weeks.
Inspired by the life and work of the American poet Emily Dickinson
, the play is set by Glaspell in her native Iowa. It is 18 years since Alison Stanhope, the country's foremost poet, died. Now the house she lived in must be sold, but it holds secrets. Did Alison sacrifice the man she loved for the sake of her family's reputation? And who do such sacrifices benefit? The play's struggles are set in 1899, on the cusp of the 20th Century in which very different values will come to prevail.
Playwright
A playwright, also called a dramatist, is a person who writes plays.The term is not a variant spelling of "playwrite", but something quite distinct: the word wright is an archaic English term for a craftsman or builder...
Susan Glaspell
Susan Glaspell
Susan Keating Glaspell was an American Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright, actress, director, novelist, biographer and poet. She was a founding member of the Provincetown Players, one of the most important collaboratives in the development of modern drama in the United States...
.
It was first produced at Eva Le Gallienne
Eva Le Gallienne
Eva Le Gallienne was a well-known actress, producer, and director, during the first half of the 20th century.-Early life and early career:...
's Civic Repertory Theatre on 14th Street, New York, on 1 December 1930 where it was given 25 performances in the regular repertory season when, unexpectedly, it was awarded the Pulitzer Prize for Drama
Pulitzer Prize for Drama
The Pulitzer Prize for Drama was first awarded in 1918.From 1918 to 2006, the Drama Prize was unlike the majority of the other Pulitzer Prizes: during these years, the eligibility period for the drama prize ran from March 2 to March 1, to reflect the Broadway 'season' rather than the calendar year...
in 1931. In May 1931 the production was transferred uptown to the Ritz Theatre where it received indifferent reviews and closed after two weeks.
Inspired by the life and work of the American poet Emily Dickinson
Emily Dickinson
Emily Elizabeth Dickinson was an American poet. Born in Amherst, Massachusetts, to a successful family with strong community ties, she lived a mostly introverted and reclusive life...
, the play is set by Glaspell in her native Iowa. It is 18 years since Alison Stanhope, the country's foremost poet, died. Now the house she lived in must be sold, but it holds secrets. Did Alison sacrifice the man she loved for the sake of her family's reputation? And who do such sacrifices benefit? The play's struggles are set in 1899, on the cusp of the 20th Century in which very different values will come to prevail.
External links
- British Theatre Guide review of the Orange Tree TheatreOrange Tree TheatreThe Orange Tree Theatre is a 172-seat theatre at 1 Clarence Street, Richmond in south west London, built specifically as a theatre in the round....
revival, October 2009 http://www.britishtheatreguide.info/reviews/alisonshouse-rev.htm - The Stage review of the Orange Tree revival http://www.thestage.co.uk/reviews/review.php/25843/alisons-house
- Guardian review of the Orange Tree revival http://www.guardian.co.uk/stage/2009/oct/11/alisons-house-susan-glaspell-review