Tom Stoppard, Arcadia

Julia Christine Kuehn (University of Hong Kong); Paul Smethurst (University of Hong Kong)

The Literary Encyclopedia. Volume 1.2.1.09: English Writing and Culture: Postwar and Contemporary Britain , 1945-present.
Vol. editors: Gina Lyle (University of Glasgow), Graham MacPhee (University of Manchester), Kerry Myler (Birmingham Newman University), Jenni Ramone (The Nottingham Trent University)

Dates

First circulation or publication 1993

Places

United Kingdom (Publication/ performance)

Genres and Modes

Play

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Arcadia

premiered at the Royal National Theatre on 13 April 1993 and opened on Broadway two years later. In London, the play received the Olivier Award for best play, and in America the New York Drama Critics' Circle Award. Benedict Nightingale, reviewing the play for

TheTimes

, wrote that Stoppard presents with

Arcadia

"the perfect marriage of ideas and high comedy”. References to chaos theory, thermodynamics, aesthetics and the distinction of literary periods and philosophical modes of enquiry flatter the intellect of the spectator, and

Arcadia

rejoices in Stoppard's hallmark witticisms and word play. Lady Croom's reprimand to her brother, “Do not dabble in paradox, Edward, it puts you in danger of fortuitous wit.” (11), seems a self-rerential witticism, and takes us back to…

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3586 words

Citation: Kuehn, Julia Christine, Paul Smethurst. "Arcadia". The Literary Encyclopedia. First published 21 September 2004 [https://www.litencyc.com/php/sworks.php?rec=true&UID=6543, accessed 23 April 2024.]

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Tom Stoppard, Arcadia

Dates

Places

Genres and Modes

Resources

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