Research Catalog

The primary English class : a play in two acts

Title
The primary English class : a play in two acts / by Israel Horovitz.
Author
Horovitz, Israel.
Publication
New York : Dramatists Play Service, ©1976.

Items in the Library & Off-site

Filter by

1 Item

StatusFormatAccessCall NumberItem Location
TextUse in library PS3558.O69 P74Off-site

Details

Description
82 pages : illustrations; 20 cm
Summary
"The setting is a classroom where an eager young teacher is about to tackle her first assignment--teaching basic English to a group of new citizens, not one of whom speaks the same language as another. Included are an excitable Italian, an over-eager Frenchman, a near-sighted German, an elderly Chinese woman and a Japanese girl. The one thing that they manage to convey to each other is that their respective names all mean 'wastebasket, ' but struggle as she will, the teacher, Debbie, is hard-pressed to bring them beyond this point of communication. Fortunately the voice of an offstage translator enables the audience to understand what those onstage cannot comprehend, but this does not help the sorely pressed Debbie, whose frustration is increased by her fear of a mugger lurking outside the door. Rigid and pedagogical at first, she becomes more frantic and desperate as her lack of success with her charges mounts, and the wonderfully funny misunderstandings multiply, until, at last, all self-control (and sanity) vanish into total, and totally hilarious, panic."--Publisher's website
Subject
  • 1900-1999
  • Teachers > Drama
  • English language > Study and teaching > Foreign speakers > Drama
  • American drama > 20th century
  • Teachers
  • English language > Study and teaching > Foreign speakers
  • American drama
Genre/Form
  • Drama
  • Drama.
  • Théâtre.
Note
  • Cast: 5 men, 4 women.
ISBN
  • 0685770397
  • 9780685770399
  • 9780822209133
  • 0822209136
  • 0889221634
  • 9780889221635
OCLC
  • ocm02682400
  • 2682400
  • SCSB-70553
Owning Institutions
Princeton University Library