The New Grotesque:

The theatre of Martin McDonagh and Tracy Letts has
thrilled and
titillated audiences across the world. While some
critics have
dismissed their writing s popularity as solely
reliant on its violent
and shocking subject matter, this book proves that
their plays are
among the most important and influential of
contemporary theatre.
In particular this book examines the influence of the
grotesque on
their writing, providing a historical examination of
the grotesque
and identifies elements of the grotesque in McDonagh
and Letts
plays. This book also examines how McDonagh and Letts
have
reconfigured the traditional grotesque into a new
style, the new
grotesque . Ultimately, through their use of the
grotesque,
McDonagh and Letts have created plays that uniquely
dramatize the
turmoil and complexity of contemporary life. The
plays examined
include: McDonagh's The Beauty Queen of Leenane, The
Pillowman
and The Lieutenant of Inishmore. The chapter on Tracy
Letts is
focused on Killer Joe, Bug and August: Osage County

Autorentext

Gregory Thorson is a PhD student at the University of Colorado.He has recieved a BA from the University of Oregon and a MA from the University ofColorado. Along with his scholarly work, Mr. Thorson is an accomplished theatre director.

Klappentext

The theatre of Martin McDonagh and Tracy Letts hasthrilled and titillated audiences across the world. While somecritics have dismissed their writing's popularity as solelyreliant on its violent and shocking subject matter, this book proves thattheir plays are among the most important and influential ofcontemporary theatre. In particular this book examines the influence of thegrotesque on their writing, providing a historical examination ofthe grotesque and identifies elements of the grotesque in McDonaghand Letts' plays. This book also examines how McDonagh and Lettshave reconfigured the traditional grotesque into a newstyle, the "new grotesque". Ultimately, through their use of thegrotesque, McDonagh and Letts have created plays that uniquelydramatize the turmoil and complexity of contemporary life. Theplays examined include: McDonagh's The Beauty Queen of Leenane, ThePillowman and The Lieutenant of Inishmore. The chapter on TracyLetts is focused on Killer Joe, Bug and August: Osage County