An impressive collection of essays by 21 of English Canada's leading theatre critics provides a cultural history of Canada, and Canadians intense relationship to theatre, from 1829 to 1998, and across the whole country.

Contributors

INTRODUCTION

1. Establishing Our Boundaries: English-Canadian Theatre Criticism by Anton Wagner (York University)

PART ONE: Editor-Critics

1. From Puffery to Criticism - Willon Lyon Mackenzie, Joseph Howe, and Daniel Morrison: Theatre Criticism in Halifax and Toronto, 1826-1857 by Patrick B O'Neill (Mount Saint Vincent University)

PART TWO: Reviewer-Critics

1. The Critic as Reviewer: E.R. Parkhurst at the Toronto Mail and Globe 1876-1924 by Ross Stuart (York University)
2. The Cosmopolitan, the Cultural Nationalist, and the Egocentric Critic: Harriet Walker, Charles W. Handscomb, and Charles H. Wheeler in Winnipeg, 1898-1906 Douglas Arrel (University of Winnipeg)

PART THREE: Cultural Nationalism

1. Hector Willoughby Charlesworth and the Nationalization of Cultural Authority, 1890-1945 by Denis Salter (McGill University)
2. Saving the Nation's Aesthetic Soul: B.K. Sandwell at the Montreal Herald, 1900-1914, and Saturday Night, 1932-1951 by Anton Wagner
3. Becoming Actively Creative: Dr. Lawrence Mason, the Globe's Critic, 1924-1939 by Anton Wagner
4. Herbert Whittaker. Reporting from the Front: The Montreal Gazette, 1937-1949, and the Globe and Mail, 1949-1975 by Jennifer Harvie (University of London) and Richard Paul Knowles (University of Guelph)
5. Criticism in a Canadian Social Context: Nathan Cohen's Theatre Criticism, 1946-1971 by Don Rublin (former chair, Department of Theatre at York University)
6. In Anger and Hope: Oscar Ryan at the Canadian Tribune, 1955-1988 by Mayte Gómez (PhD cand., McGill University)
7. The Classical Humanist: Jamie Portman at the Calgary Herald, 1959-1975, and the Southern News Service, 1975-1987 by Moira Day (University of Saskatchewan)
8. The Archetypal Enthusiast: Urjo Kareda at the Toronto Star, 1971-1975 by Denis Johnston (Shaw Festival)
9. The Critic as Cultural Nationalist: Don Rubin at the Toronto Star, 1968-1972, and the Canadian Theatre Review, 1974-1982 by Ira Levine (Ryerson, Chair Canadian Association of Fine Arts Deans)

PART FOUR: The Post-Nationalist Period

1. Subverting Modernisms in British Columbia: Christopher Dafoe at the Vancouver Sun, 1968-1975 by James Hoffman (University College of the Cariboo)
2. Journalist or Critic? Brian Brennan at the Calgary Herald, 1975-1988 by Diane Bessai (University of Alberta)
3. The Iconoclast Sceptic on the Beat: Gina Mallet at the Toronto Star, 1976-1984 by Alan Filewod (University of Guelph)
4. Establishing Contact between Two Cultures: Marianne Ackerman at the Montreal Gazette, 1983-1987 by Leanore Lieblein (former chair of English, McGill University)
5. Theatre - Transgression of Tribal Celebration? Ray Conlogue at the Globe and Mail, 1978-1998 by Robert Nunn (Brock University)

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