Signs of Life: Six Comedies of Menace
Originally written to be read as stories, the six plays in this collection reveal the author's talents for language and metaphor as she explores some disturbing aspects of our recent history and culture. In Cabin Fever, cannibalism is used as a metaphor for the devouring nature of idle gossip. The Last Days of Hitler looks at the Holocaust through the eyes of an increasingly Jewish Hitler and Eva Braun. Burning Desires is set in 1950s Seattle, where the chief character, Joan Dark, leads the pyromaniacal Bonfire Girls under the guidance of her spiritual mentors Marlene Dietrich, Emily Bronte, Gertrude Stein, and a closeted Emily Dickinson. Schenkar is widely regarded as America's most original contemporary female playwright. Her combination of surrealism and dark humor will not appeal to everyone, but those who like their comedy with a bite will feast on this title. Recommended for larger modern drama collections.?Howard E. Miller, St. Louis Science Ctr.Copyright 1997 Reed Business Information, Inc.