Grand-Guignol: The French Theatre of HorrorThe Théâtre du Grand-Guignol in Paris (1897 - 1962) achieved a legendary reputation as the 'Theatre of Horror' a venue displaying such explicit violence and blood-curdling terror that a resident doctor was employed to treat the numerous spectators who fainted each night. Indeed, the phrase 'grand guignol' has entered the language to describe any display of sensational horror. Since the theatre closed its doors forty years ago, the genre has been overlooked by critics and theatre historians. This book reconsiders the importance and influence of the Grand-Guignol within its social, cultural and historical contexts, and is the first attempt at a major evaluation of the genre as performance. It gives full consideration to practical applications and to the challenges presented to the actor and director. The book also includes outstanding new translations by the authors of ten Grand-Guignol plays, none of which have been previously available in English. The presentation of these plays in English for the first time is an implicit demand for a total reappraisal of the grand-guignol genre, not least for the unexpected inclusion of two very funny comedies. |
From inside the book
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... Li- Tong will be ' made an example of ' . As in other Grand - Guignol plays , especially de Lorde's , The Torture Garden is economical in its horrors and exemplary in its pace . There are four principal moments of onstage violence : the ...
... LI - TONG : Great danger . Everything is treacherous : the land , the paddy fields , the enemy is invisible ... CAPTAIN : Monsieur Marchal knows the land . It's not the first time he's been there . LI - TONG : But Hanoi to Phnom Penh is ...
... Li - Tong mentioned it . . . CAPTAIN : I see that Monsieur Li - Tong isn't just interested in Chinese poetry . CLARA : Monsieur Li - Tong deplores the rebellion . He's very worried about the diplomatic repercussions . What about the ...
Contents
Location and venue | 26 |
Technical Aspects of GrandGuignol Practice | 52 |
Issues of Audience and Reception at the GrandGuignol | 67 |
Copyright | |
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Other editions - View all
Grand-Guignol: The French Theatre of Horror Prof. Richard J. Hand,Prof. Michael Wilson No preview available - 2019 |
Grand-Guignol: The French Theatre of Horror Richard J. Hand,Michael Wilson No preview available - 2002 |