The House of Shadows

N.p. N.p., Circa 1980s. Vintage script for the 1992 play. Working copy belonging to playwright Barrie Stavis, with his substantive annotations in manuscript pencil throughout, and xerographically duplicated, editorial annotations in a different hand.

Born in New York and educated at Columbia University, Stavis wrote primarily about historical figures whose discoveries and beliefs challenged contemporary authority. Although his work was performed infrequently in the US, his plays were successful internationally, particularly in Eastern Europe. He is today best remembered for his first tetralogy of plays, "Lamp at Midnight" (1947), "The Man Who Never Died" (1954), "Harpers Ferry" (1960), and "Coat of Many Colors" (1968). The National Theatre Conference established the Barrie and Bernice Stavis Award for Emerging Playwrights in 1988 in honor of his work.

"The House of Shadows" is a drama about several people on the periphery of the Spanish Civil War. Although Stavis initially began work on "The House of Shadows" in the late 1930s, the play did was not staged until 1992, when it made its premiere at the Komissarzhevskaya Theatre in St. Petersburg.

Set in France in 1937.

Red untitled wrappers. Title page present, undated, with credit for Stavis. 127 leaves, with last page of text numbered 2-2-39. Xerographic duplication, rectos only. Pages Near Fine, wrapper Very Good plus, bound with two gold screw brads.

[Book #160903]