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Reveals the contribution of Irish writers to the Georgian English stage; argues that theatre is an important strand of the Irish Enlightenment.
List of contents
Introduction: staging an Irish Enlightenment David O'Shaughnessy; Part I. Representations and Resistance: 1. Straddling: London-Irish actresses and their characters Felicity Nussbaum; 2. John Johnstone and the possibilities of Irishness, 1783-1820 Jim Davis; 3. The diminution of 'Irish' Johnstone Oskar Cox Jensen; Part II. Symbiotic Stages: Dublin and London: 4. Midas, Kane O'Hara and the Italians: an interplay of comedy between London and Dublin Michael Burden; 5. Trading loyalties: Richard Brinsley Sheridan, The School for Scandal and the Irish propositions Robert W. Jones; 6. Sydney Owenson, Alicia Sheridan Le Fanu and the domestic stage of post-inion politics Colleen Taylor; Part III. Enlightened Perspectives: 7. Civility, patriotism and performance: Cato and the Irish history play David O'Shaughnessy; 8. From Ireland to Peru: Arthur Murphy's (anti)-imperial dramaturgy Bridget Orr; 9. The provincial commencement of James Field Stanfield Declan Mccormack; 10. Worlding the village: John O'Keeffe's 'Excentric' pastorals Helen Burke.
About the author
David O'Shaughnessy is Associate Professor of English at Trinity College Dublin. He has published widely on eighteenth-century theatre studies, including William Godwin and the Theatre (2010). Most recently, he edited 'Networks of Aspiration: The London Irish of the Eighteenth Century' which was a special issue of the journal Eighteenth-Century Life and co-edited The Letters of Oliver Goldsmith (2018).
Summary
Scholars of eighteenth-century Britain, Ireland, and Enlightenment theatre will welcome this book as it uncovers the considerable contribution made by Irish actors and playwrights to Georgian English theatre. It connects Irish patriotism with new historiography, revealing how theatrical culture demanded political and economic autonomy.
