By Courtney Wentz | Observer Contributor
Every other year, MWCC offers a one of a kind class called Modern Drama, taught by Professor Susan Blake.
In Modern Drama, students read and discuss popular plays from the 20th century, like Henrik Ibsen’s A Doll’s House, Arthur Miller’s All My Sons, and Lorraine Hansberry’s A Raisin in the Sun, along with a handful of others, plus a professor who is passionate about the topic. “I always loved plays,” Professor Blake said, “I’m always looking for new plays and playwrights.”
There is something captivating about a play and more real to a play, than a movie or a book. Professor Blake said, “Playwrights speak to our times, particularly to events in society.” Plays will focus more on big events in the history of the world, not just to individual countries or states.
When asked about her favourite play and playwright, she had a tough time deciding on a play and playwright that are her favourites. She simply enjoys all of them. Although, she did have high praises for Martin McDonagh, an Irish playwright, and his play Beauty Queens of Leenane, saying, “It’s the perfect play. It does everything drama is supposed to do. The end is inevitable.”
Professor Blake did say she “appreciates the experimental playwrights,” like Luigi Pirandello and Samuel Beckett, but she “really loves the realist.” The playwrights that write about the noticeable changes and impacting events in history. They make the characters relatable to the audiences.
She came to teach this class because the professor before her was retiring, and she had studied and wrote about plays by Tennessee Williams, Arthur Miller, and Eugene O’Neill, and of course, many more. She also studied with a drama major, who did influence her interest in plays.
Professor Blake is always looking for new plays and playwrights to experience. She mentioned Lynn Nottage, writer of a play called Ruined. “Live theatre is more immediate. It’s happening right there, when you’re in the theatre,” Professor Blake said.
She also wanted to thank the Theatre at the Mount “for all the work they do to keep theatre alive in this area with their work of the highest quality.”
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