Five plays by modern playwrights, mostly from the early 20th century. It can be difficult when reading these plays to remember that the style of theatre has changed, and that when these were written, long expository speeches were the norm. In some ways, that can be good, because it does help you keep track of a complex plot if someone is constantly explaining it to you, but it tends to ring false to a modern ear. Overall, an interesting bit of theatre history. ( )