ABSTRACT
The writers who are the subject of this chapter found little to admire in the contemporary avant-garde theatre. The sensory appeal of theatre is registered in the statement in James's first article on theatre that: The immediacy of performance offered to supply the very things his prose fiction lacked, but his Notebook discussion of 'the horrid theatre trade' is characterised by images of battle and assault. Summersoft, she asked James to write for her after the failure of Guy Domville but, having reworked it as the short story, Covering End, James now developed it into a three-act play which offers much sharper comedy than his earlier work and is an altogether more viable piece. Society ventures, James, no longer attempting single-handed reform, demonstrates new confidence in both theatre and audience. The plays discussed in this chapter have not been interactive with the culture of their time in this way.
