Overview
Synopsis
David Williamson takes on Shakespeare, academia, feminism, the patriarchy, and liberalism in Dead White Males. University student Angela finds her worldview being expanded in Professor Swain’s literary theory class, which proclaims that all our realities are shaped and controlled by the dominant liberal humanist ideology. This means no objective reality, no universal human truths--not in life nor literature, even Angela’s favorite writer, William Shakespeare. By examining Shakespeare’s plays and her own family at the behest of her professor and the bard himself, Angela comes to learn the importance of thinking for herself, and that not everything is as black or white as some would want her to believe.
Show Information
- Book
- David Williamson
- Category
- Play
- Age Guidance
- Youth (Y)/General Audiences (G)
- Number of Acts
- 2
- First Produced
- 1995
- Genres
- Comedy
- Settings
- Contemporary, Multiple Settings
- Time & Place
- The campus of New West University and the Judd home. Present.
- Cast Size
- medium
- Ideal For
- College/University, Community Theatre, Ensemble Cast, Professional Theatre, Regional Theatre, Mostly Female Cast, Includes Young Adult, Adult, Mature Adult, Elderly Characters, Medium Cast
Context
Plot
Characters
| Name | Part Size | Gender | Vocal Part |
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Lead |
Male |
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Lead |
Female |
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Lead |
Male |
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Supporting |
Female |
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Supporting |
Male |
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Supporting |
Male |
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Supporting |
Female |
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Supporting |
Male |
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Supporting |
Female |
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Supporting |
Female |
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Supporting |
Female |
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Songs
A song with an asterisk (*) before the title indicates a dance number; a character listed in a song with an asterisk (*) by the character's name indicates that the character exclusively serves as a dancer in this song, which is sung by other characters.
Monologues
Scenes
Key Terms
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Videos
Quizzes
Themes, Symbols & Motifs
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Quote Analysis
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