The Play's the Thing
The Play's the Thing is a collection of humorous poems and stories written by Gelett Burgess. The book includes works such as "The Purple Cow," "The Rubaiyat of Omar Cayenne," and "The Goops." It was first published in 1905 and has since become a classic of American humor.
By Gelett Burgess · First published 1902 · Genre: Drama, Philosophical, Literary Criticism · 1,648 words
First lines
"Would you rather see a good play performed by poor actors, or a poor play done by good actors? " asked Celestine.
What this Textopian page supports
The Play's the Thing is listed on Textopian as a short story by Gelett Burgess, dated 1902 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Short story
- Author: Gelett Burgess
- Date: 1902 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Drama, Philosophical, Literary Criticism, Romanticism, Essay
- Length: 1,648 words
- Structure: 1 section, 15 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Fairly Easy (7th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for The Play's the Thing by Gelett Burgess
- Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
- Readability and classroom-planning context
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Discussion starters
- What should a reader notice first when entering The Play's the Thing?
- How does this short story by Gelett Burgess fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does Drama first become important in the reading?
Similar titles
- Act V by Thomas Bailey Aldrich
- At The Play by Gilbert Parker
- A Defence Of Dramatic Unities by G. K. Chesterton
- On Stage Costume by G. K. Chesterton
- The Too Ready Writer by George Eliot
- Beaumont And Fletcher by Samuel Taylor Coleridge
Genres
- Drama — The text discusses the nature of plays, acting, and the dramatic arts, focusing on the essence of drama over performance.
- Philosophical — The narrative explores philosophical questions about art, realism, and the nature of life and performance.
- Literary Criticism — The work critiques and analyzes the elements of drama and literature, comparing different forms of artistic expression.
- Romanticism — The text advocates for a romantic view of life and art, emphasizing imagination and idealism over realism.
Tags
theater · drama · comedy · playwriting · performance · actors · audience · entertainment · art · creativity · improvisation · dialogue