About FDU Press

Taylor (Illinois College) presents a unique comparative study of eight Shakespearean plays directed by women in the US in the last decade of the 20th century. In the first chapter, the author grounds her discussion by contextualizing the gender culture of the theater and discussing her own methods, materials, and directorial choices. Taylor then focuses on four plays and their producers: Romeo and Juliet, produced by Jayme Koszyn (1992) and Lisa Wolpe (1993); measure for Measure, by Ellen O’Brien (1991) and Tina Packer (1996); Twelfth Night, by Melia Bensussen (1995) and Abigail Adams (1996); and Cymbeline, by Barbara Gaines (1989) and JoAnne Akalaitis (1989). Taylor’s aim is to explore how these “women directors have interpreted and staged female subjectivity,” and how despite different philosophies about and interpretations of Shakespeare their work gives “evidence of feminist ideology.” Though dense and detailed, this substantive study – which grew out of Taylor’s dissertation – is easy to read. The divided bibliography offers works providing general background information and then works about each play, literary criticism, recent production history, and the directors’ work.