"Contemporary One-Act Plays" by B. Roland Lewis et al. is a collection of one-act plays written in the early 20th century. This compilation serves both educational and entertainment purposes, aiming to highlight the one-act play as a specific, significant dramatic form. The collection includes a variety of plays that range across genres like comedy and tragedy while intentionally focusing on uplifting themes. The opening of the collection introduces the concept of the one-act play and its importance within contemporary theatre. In the introduction, Lewis emphasizes the artistic and technical distinctions of the one-act play, asserting that it should convey a singular dramatic effect within a shorter timeframe. He notes that well-crafted one-act plays condense significant human experiences, allowing for an intense emotional impact. The introduction sets the stage for the plays that follow, promising a powerful exploration of life's complexities through concise storytelling and character development. (This is an automatically generated summary.)
These books are free to read. Each is in the public domain in the United States; check your own country's rules before you copy or share one.