The Penguin Dictionary Of The Theatre

There is a new Penguin Dictionary of the Theatre dated 2004. The one being reviewed dates 1968. Naturally this means it is missing much the contemporary reader would like to know. Its definitions are dry, informative ones, and cover a wide- range of entries though one can feel a British focus. Where I found it inadequate was in giving evaluations of the playwrights and works. For instance in the Arthur Miller entry there is no mention of the fact that 'Death of a Salesman' is still considered his most important work. And there is no explanation whatsoever of what that importance is. So too in the Shakespeare entry we get an overall classification of the plays in three periods without real description of the overall significance of Shakespeare's work.

Concise and to the point. I have found most of the mainstream theatre genres and practisioners I have looked up in it. I must admit that some historical details are just skimmed through, accentuating only the famous works of an author or director. For a full spectrum, I find myself alternating between the Cambridge Paperback Guide to Theatre and this dictionary.