An original adaptation and production of Irving"s celebrated early American short story Rip Van Winkle

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1954

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The problem. The problem consists of (1) writing an original adaptation of a short story in play form; (2) actual production of the play; (3) a presentation of the script and explanations and drawings of the production. Data. The data used in writing this thesis was obtained primarily from Geoffrey Crayon"s Sketchbook by Washington Irving. However, much usable information was derived from the prefaces found in early adaptations by Charles Burke, Herman Ould and Walter Kerr. The main gist of the material used in the historical background came from The Life of Washington Irving by Stanley T. Williams and the Reader"s Encyclopedia by William Rose Benet. Facts concerning the performances of Joseph Jefferson were found in such books as Sheldon Cheney"s The The Theatre and Footlights and Spotlights by Otis Skinner. Summary. This thesis is broken up into five parts designated as chapters. The first chapter deals with the problem, the importance of the study and the procedure used in writing the original script. The second chapter is concerned with the historical background of Rip Van Winkle, information about early adaptations and notes on the performances of Joseph Jefferson. The third chapter is devoted entirely to the script, which the writer feels is the most important part of the thesis. Much time was spent in visualising the scenes and writing the actual dialogue. The dance pantomimes, which depict events that take place during Rip"s long sleep, seem most typical of the fresh and creative quality the writer hoped to attain. The fourth chapter contains drawings of the production including set designs, costume plates and light plots. This chapter also contains explanations of the technical problems involved, The writer feels that the time spent on writing and producing the script was justified by the reaction of the audience. This reaction might be summed up by a note received by the writer from an impartial member of the audience. It stated, in essence, that each member of her family loved this production of Rip Van Winkle from the time the curtain parted on the opening scene until it closed on the storytelling sequence of the final act.

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