Many contemporary critics of the drama and theatre, if they consider Sidney Kingsley at all, tend to dismiss him with a brief mention of his work and an acknowledgment that his plays are either dated or insignificant. And indeed, his plays would seem behind the times to a modern audience. However, such a summary dismissal of Kingsley's dramatic contributions is perhaps unwise, for while he is certainly not a playwright of the caliber of Eugene O'Neill or Arthur Miller, he has nonetheless been an important asset to the social conscience of twentieth-century American theatre. Kingsley has devoted his playwriting career to the forceful illumination of serious, difficult social issues in American society.
Every age of the theatre has had its social critics, from Euripides in ancient Greece to socially aware playwrights of the present day. Kingsley belongs in that dramatic tradition. He made his first appearance as a professional playwright in the turbulent 1930s, when American theatre was struggling with new techniques and increasing social awareness.
This is a free page. This page contains 151 words. This
biography contains 7,433 words (approx. 25 pages at 300
words per page).
Read the rest of this Biography with our Sidney Kingsley Access Pass.
