Graft - A Comedy in Four Acts

Harold Brighouse

Publisher: DigiCat

Summary

In Harold Brighouse's play "Graft," we are immersed in the complex world of a struggling theatre company grappling with the inherent tensions between artistic integrity and commercial success. Written in the early 20th century, the play employs sharp wit and engaging dialogue, blending realism with elements of farce to explore themes of ambition, ethics, and the pursuit of identity within the arts. Through a cast of vividly drawn characters, Brighouse poignantly captures the challenges faced by creatives in a capitalist society, inviting audiences to ponder the moral implications of compromise in the name of success. Brighouse, an influential British playwright born in 1882 in Manchester, was deeply influenced by the vibrant cultural landscape of his hometown and the burgeoning theatre scene. His experiences as an actor and his keen understanding of the theatrical business informed his writing, leading him to craft narratives that resonate with both personal and professional dilemmas. "Graft" particularly reflects Brighouse's own struggles with loyalty to artistic vision versus the need for financial viability, a conflict that parallels many artists' experiences. Readers who appreciate clever dialogue and thought-provoking themes will find "Graft" a compelling exploration of the theatre world. This play is not only a captivating narrative but also a significant commentary on the sacrifices made in the pursuit of art. It remains relevant today as it evokes a timeless conversation about the balance between creativity and commercialism.

Available since: 09/16/2022.

Print length: 54 pages.

Other books that might interest you

Proposition of the Season The:...

Michelle Kenney

'How I love a story of sisters, and Michelle Kenney has conjured up four sparky modern-minded Fairfax girls. The dialogue is quick-fire, plot complex and satisfying, the men heroic and rich'Jane Dunn, Sunday Times bestselling author 
Perfect for Bridgerton and Jane Austen fans! Fall in love with your favourite new Regency series, with this third installment from the Fairfax family… 
‘And you’ve come here today to read me a lecture in all my deplorable habits?’ 
‘No…’ she stalled, wracking her brain for inspiration and failing, ‘I’ve come here to ask you to marry me!’  
After three disastrous seasons, bookish Josephine Fairfax believes that she is long past the age of finding her perfect fictional hero. But when her brother’s loathsome Monstrous Marriage Masterplan results in her youngest sister Matilda’s engagement to the vastly unsuitable Lord Huntingly, even she must draw the line. 
Josephine may be the bluestocking sister, but she is still a Fairfax who will sacrifice anything for family, even proposing marriage to a man who may be the most dangerous gentleman in the ton… 
Each book in the Fairfax Sisters series can be read as a standalone. 
For fans of Emma Melbourne (The Mysterious Mr. Oliver), Mary Balogh (Remember Me), Emma Orchard (For the Viscount's Eyes Only), Sophia Holloway (The Chaperone), and Grace Burrowes (The Last True Gentleman).

Show book

Diamond Eye The: Book summary &...

Margot Langley

This content is an independent and unofficial summary created for informational and educational purposes only. It is not affiliated with, authorized, approved, licensed, or endorsed by the original author or publisher. All rights to the original work belong to its respective copyright holders. This summary is not intended to substitute the original book, but to offer a concise overview and interpretation of its main ideas.
 

A fearless librarian turned Night Witch soars through moonless skies, her “diamond eye” guiding precision strikes that shift the course of history. The Diamond Eye is a riveting testament to disciplined innovation, resilient leadership, and the transformative power of purpose under fire—designed to inspire listeners to channel focus, iteration, and empathy into their own daring pursuits.

Show book

Persuasion - Jane Austen’s...

Jane Austen

"Persuasion" by Jane Austen is a novel set in the early 19th century. The story centers around Anne Elliot, the quiet yet perceptive daughter of Sir Walter Elliot, a vain baronet struggling with financial difficulties and the threat to his social status. The novel delves into themes of love, regret, and societal pressures, particularly through Anne's past romance with Captain Frederick Wentworth, a man without fortune or title whom her family disapproved of. 
At the beginning of the book, we meet Sir Walter Elliot, who is completely absorbed in his vanity and status as a baronet, while ignoring the significant financial problems threatening their estate, Kellynch Hall. The narrative unfolds the dynamics within the Elliot family, especially highlighting Anne's delicate position, which is overshadowed by her more socially ambitious sisters and overlooked by her father.  
The opening establishes Anne's sense of duty as well as her longing for a life that truly recognizes her character and feelings, setting the stage for the complex emotional struggles she faces as the story progresses and explores her potential reconnection with Wentworth, who is now a successful naval captain. This sets the foundation for Anne's journey of self-discovery amid the entanglements of family, friendship, and social standings.

Show book

Red Front

T.K. Blackwood

The year is 1992. 
 
 
 
The unthinkable has happened. East and West are on a crash course for war, and the battlefield will be Germany. Peace is no longer an option and all bets are off as the Free World and the Communist Bloc descend into war. NATO forces scramble to grapple with the Soviet juggernaut, as the Reds pull out all the stops—and engineer a secret plan—to crush them in a single mighty blow. The future of humanity tilts in the balance. 
 
 
 
Welcome to World War III.

Show book

The Senator's Daughter

E. P. Livingston

Boston, 1829. Julia Webster has grown up the daughter of the renowned senator Daniel Webster and is confronted with her world turning upside down. Still grieving the loss of her mother, she learns her widowed father plans to marry a woman he barely seems to know himself. 
As she wrestles with this new reality, she learns more than she counted on about her father's work. Treasured memories of her late mother's philanthropic efforts toward Native American causes intertwine with the current reality of Andrew Jackson's Indian Removal Act which could lead to the displacement of five peoples in the southern United States. In the midst of this upheaval she meets the beguiling Matthew Eaton, the nephew of one of President Jackson's staunchest allies, who may or may not be on her side. 
As Julia continues to throw herself into the cause and considers more drastic action to educate herself further, she’ll be faced with a decision that could cause irreparable damage to her place in her family. What lengths will Julia go to advocate for a cause she believes in?

Show book

The New Atlantis

Sir Francis Bacon

The New Atlantis is a utopian novel by Sir Francis Bacon. In this work, Bacon portrayed a vision of the future of human discovery and knowledge, expressing his aspirations and ideals for humankind. The novel depicts the creation of a utopian land where "generosity and enlightenment, dignity and splendor, piety and public spirit" are the commonly held qualities of the inhabitants of "Bensalem". The plan and organization of his ideal college, "Salomon's House" envisioned the modern research university in both applied and pure sciences. Many aspects of the society and history of the island are described, such as the christian religion - which is reported to have being born there as a copy of the Bible and a letter from the Apostle Saint Bartholomew arrived there miraculously, a few years after the Ascension of Jesus; a cultural feast in honor of the family institution, called "the Feast of the Family"; a college of sages, the Salomon's House, "the very eye of the kingdom".

Show book