Category Archives: drama

The Second Shepherds’ Play, England’s “First Comedy”

Posted on July 7, 2021 by reginajeffers

  The Wakefield mystery play cycle included The Second Shepherd’s Play. The author is unknown, but the play is commonly attributed to the Wakefield Master. This play dates from the latter half of the 15th Century. It is written in Middle … Continue reading →

Posted in British history, drama, medieval | Tagged , , | Comments Off on The Second Shepherds’ Play, England’s “First Comedy”

Is Shakespeare’s Play “Macbeth” Cursed?

Posted on June 2, 2021 by reginajeffers

As theatre was my minor in my undergraduate program, I often studied Shakespeare’s play “Macbeth,” and I have taught it many times. However, I have never performed in or directed the play. Even so, I know something of the “Curse … Continue reading →

Posted in acting, drama, Elizabethan drama, paranormal, playwrights, real life tales, research, theatre | Tagged , , , , , | 3 Comments

Origin of the Drama – Everyman and The Second Shepherd’s Play

Posted on May 28, 2021 by reginajeffers

Morality Plays, those in which the characters were allegorical persons would attempt to drive home a moral. They provided more scope to the imagination for new plots and incidents and afforded a  chance for delineation of characters. (For more information … Continue reading →

Posted in Age of Chaucer, Anglo-Normans, Anglo-Saxons, British history, Chaucer, Church of England, drama, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , | 2 Comments

New Year’s Resolutions for Some Favorite Classic Characters

Posted on January 1, 2020 by reginajeffers

New Year’s was not always celebrated on 1 January. Ancient cultures celebrated the New Year in mid-March with the planting of a new crop. It is said that the Babylonians were the first to make New Year’s resolutions. That would … Continue reading →

Posted in books, drama, Elizabethan drama, Jane Austen, King Arthur, legends and myths, literature, playwrights, Pride and Prejudice, reading, reading habits | Tagged , , , , , , , | Comments Off on New Year’s Resolutions for Some Favorite Classic Characters

A Closer Look at “The Memoirs of Barry Lyndon, Esq.” by William Makepeace Thackeray

Posted on December 2, 2019 by reginajeffers

 I have debated whether this post should be a review of the book The Memoirs of Barry Lyndon, Esq. by William Makepeace Thackeray or a review of the Stanley Kubrick movie Barry Lyndon or something in between. In truth, I was … Continue reading →

Posted in books, British history, drama, film, Georgian England, Great Britain | Tagged , , , , , | 2 Comments

Pre-Elizabethan Drama: Morality Plays

Posted on February 4, 2019 by reginajeffers

Previously, I did a piece on Liturgical Drama. Today I would like to look at Moralities. As compared to the Miracle or Liturgical dramas, the morality play was one where the playwright had to come up with an original story … Continue reading →

Posted in acting, Age of Chaucer, Anglo-Normans, Anglo-Saxons, British history, drama, medieval, playwrights, Vagary | Tagged , , , , , | Comments Off on Pre-Elizabethan Drama: Morality Plays

Anna Larpent, 18th Century Diarist and Lover of Plays

Posted on November 28, 2018 by reginajeffers

An 18th Century diarist, Anna Larpent’s diary gives a look into Georgian life. She was the daughter of a diplomat. She served as the de facto assistant Examiner of Plays during her time. At age 18, Larpent pulished a 32-page … Continue reading →

Posted in British history, drama, Georgian England, Georgian Era, Jane Austen, playwrights, reading habits, real life tales, writing | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 5 Comments

English Drama and the Origins of Censorship

Posted on August 22, 2018 by reginajeffers

Of late, on social media we have been bombarded with what is termed “obscenities.” We writers are often accused by “reviewers” of writing obscenities or sexually explicit scenes when in our estimations, we are writing PG scenes. The problem is … Continue reading →

Posted in Age of Chaucer, British history, Church of England, drama, kings and queens, playwrights, religion | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on English Drama and the Origins of Censorship

“Mirror, Mirror on the Wall” – The Employment of Filmic Devices to Tell a Story in Austen Adaptations

Posted on July 9, 2018 by reginajeffers

 Often in the visual representations of Jane Austen’s works, the media employs props or artifacts as visual cues to Austen’s themes of flawed impressions, misconceptions, and false interpretations. For example, in Austen’s Emma, Harriet’s sketch serves as a means to … Continue reading →

Posted in acting, Austen actors, drama, film, film adaptations, Jane Austen, Pride and Prejudice | Tagged , , , , , , , | Comments Off on “Mirror, Mirror on the Wall” – The Employment of Filmic Devices to Tell a Story in Austen Adaptations

Double Your Pleasure with Austen-Inspired Actors and Actresses

Posted on February 26, 2018 by reginajeffers

Anyone who knows me knows that I am a film buff, especially period dramas. For many years, I taught media literacy, and I love to look for “unique” facts. One of my favorites is a list of actors who regularly … Continue reading →

Posted in acting, Austen actors, drama, film, film adaptations, Jane Austen | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 5 Comments