Re-Dressing the Canon - Theatre, Gender, and Performance

In this review of Re-Dressing the Canon, Alisa Solomon offers a lucid, theory-informed look at how gender and performance intersect across both classical and modern theatre. The book is best for readers who want close readings of productions alongside accessible scholarly argument; Solomon balances case studies of productions with engaging theoretical framing so the result reads as both criticism and cultural history. If you value clear analysis of how gender is staged and re-staged in theatre, this collection provides insight without academic obfuscation.

Key Features

• Close performance criticism: Solomon pairs careful accounts of live productions with observations that help readers imagine the staging and acting decisions discussed.
• Theoretical clarity: The essays apply ideas of gender performativity in ways that illuminate theatrical choices rather than bury them in jargon.
• Wide historical sweep: Coverage ranges from Aristophanes and Ibsen to contemporary companies, giving a sense of continuity in how gender appears onstage.
• Canonical and experimental texts: Discussion includes Shakespeare, Brecht, and modern groups such as Split Britches and Mabou Mines, highlighting contrasts in style and gender representation.
• Readable prose: Solomon writes in an engaging, jargon-free style that opens theoretical questions to general readers and theatre practitioners alike.

Who It's For

This volume is ideal for theatre students, scholars of performance studies, and informed theatre-goers who want a critical companion to productions that foreground gender. Its essays are useful for classroom discussion and for readers tracing how historical texts continue to be restaged with new gender perspectives.

Readers seeking a how-to guide for stagecraft or a general history of theatre without a focus on gender should look elsewhere, as the book centers on interpretive criticism and theoretical inquiry rather than practical staging manuals.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• Brings together detailed production criticism with accessible theory to explain why gender choices onstage matter.
• Wide range of texts and companies provides comparative perspective across eras and styles.
• Clear, lively writing makes complex ideas on gender and performance approachable.

Cons

• Focused academic criticism means it is less useful as a practical staging handbook for directors seeking step-by-step techniques.

Specifications

Our Verdict

Re-Dressing the Canon is a thoughtful, well-written collection that rewards readers interested in how gender is constructed and staged. Its combination of live-performance criticism and clear theoretical framing makes it good value for students and theatre-literate readers who want deeper context for productions that engage gender, even if it does not serve as a practical staging guide.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does this book focus on contemporary performances?
Yes; while it considers canonical texts, several essays analyze recent productions and companies to trace current practices.

Is a background in theory required?
No; Solomon writes in an accessible style and explains theoretical points so that readers without specialist training can follow the arguments.

Will it help directors with staging choices?
It offers interpretive insights that can inform staging decisions, but it is not a technical manual for production techniques.