When Romeo was a Woman: Charlotte Cushman and Her Circle of Female SpectatorsUniversity of Michigan Press, 1999 - 318 pagina's At the height of her career, actress Charlotte Cushman (1816-76) was one of the most famous women in the English-speaking world. Cushman challenged Victorian notions of gender in her stage portrayals of male characters and of strong, androgynous female characters. Offstage, she was a powerful businesswoman who supported her family, women lovers, and friends. Lisa Merrill examines Cushman's personal correspondence to shed new light on the actress's relationships and in turn on our understandings of the nature of women's "romantic friendships." She demonstrates how Cushman's androgynous presence served as a symbol to many of her contemporaries, and revealed their multiple and often contradictory attitudes toward female performers, women, and the unspeakable possibilities of same-sex desire. The biography draws upon unpublished archival material as well as on current critical work to view Cushman's career, relationships, and posthumous reception. When Romeo Was a Woman examines as autobiographical performance Cushman's own narratives, the stories she authorized others to write, and the letters she wrote to intimates. The book is richly illustrated with many previously unpublished portraits of Cushman in her various stage roles, including Romeo and Lady Macbeth, and other revealing photographs of her family, lovers and friends. When Romeo Was a Woman will find an appreciative audience among general readers as well as specialists in gay/lesbian history, women's history, theater and performance, popular culture, Victorian studies, and American studies. "A fascinating story, and a major contribution to our understanding of lesbian history. . . . The work done on archival resources is both impressive in its extent and wholly convincing in its effect." --Jacky Bratton, University of London Lisa Merrill is Associate Professor of Communication and Performance Studies, Hofstra University. She is the coauthor of The Power to Communicate: Gender Differences as Barriers, and the author of Untying the Tongue: Power, Gender, and the Word, forthcoming. |
Inhoudsopgave
Crossings | 1 |
by Rosalie Sully 1844 | 11 |
The Hero in the Family and on the Stage | 15 |
Copyright | |
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When Romeo was a Woman: Charlotte Cushman and Her Circle of Female Spectators Lisa Merrill Gedeeltelijke weergave - 2000 |
When Romeo was a Woman: Charlotte Cushman and Her Circle of Female Spectators Lisa Merrill Fragmentweergave - 1999 |
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acclaim acting actor actress American Anne Brewster appeared artists audience Bianca Boston British career CC to Emma Char Charlotte and Matilda Charlotte and Susan Charlotte Cush Charlotte Cushman Charlotte wrote Charlotte's performance circle claimed critics debut depicted desire despite Eliza Cook Elizabeth Barrett Browning Emma Crow Cushman Emma Stebbins emotional England erotic expressed Fanny Kemble fans feelings felt female feminine Forrest friends friendship gender Geraldine Jewsbury Hamlet Hatty Hosmer Hatty's Juliet Lady Macbeth later lesbian letters lived London lotte lotte's lover Macready male roles marriage Mary Eliza Mary Howitt masculine Matilda Hays melodrama Miss Cushman mother offstage onstage partner passion Philadelphia play popular Press professional relationship romantic romantic friendships Rome Romeo Rosalie Sully Sallie Mercer seen sexual sister social spectators stage Stebbins's story success Susan Cushman talent theatrical Thomas Sully tion Vandenhoff Wayman Crow William William Charles Macready woman women writing York young
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