Forbidden Acts: Pioneering Gay and Lesbian Plays of the 20th Century

This well-selected anthology chronologically examines 10 plays that""are notable for having explored gay or lesbian themes in what might be loosely termed a 'pioneering' way."" Encompassing genres from drama and tragedy to romance and comedy, the works discussed include 1910's The God of Vengeance by Sholom Ash, 1934's The Children's Hour by Lillian Hellman, 1965's The Killing of Sister George by Frank Marcus and 1994's Love! Valour! Compassion! by Terrence McNally. For each play, Hodges gives the full text, and, for some, he shares a brief overview that puts the play in context. The compilation--which includes three out-of-print plays--deftly shows how the 20th-century stage progressed from burying and implying homosexuality to showing gay characters with an""unapologetic, happenstance presentation."" Scholars of gay and lesbian history, as well as theater buffs, will want to add this important volume to their collections. Photos.