Magic

Gilbert Keith Chesterton Other

A Fantastic Comedy
(1913)
This play is merely the canvas chosen by the author to propose an idea and a question. Does the spiritual realm still have a place in this seemingly practical modern age that we all live in, and if so, how can we as individuals accept it? Chesterton's creation and development of his different characters creatively shows the different views of this issue and how each one reacts and deals with this question. From the very beginning, the play is riveting with mystery and an eloquence entirely the author's own. Sadly, the three acts of the play are all together almost as short as a one-act, which doesn't allow the rich and enjoyable characters the author has created to flourish or to step outside the one pervading idea of the piece and into lives of their own. They only exist to answer the plays thematic question and to react. Once that is done, the play ends as well. Yet its end is well done and satisfying to the plays purpose. This is a very enjoyable quick read, which would be relatively easy to stage and enjoyable to most audiences if the actors are able to find the author's marvellous sarcastic wit as well as the gravity of the issue without falling into melodramatic antics.--Submitted by Mary Pearce

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