Modern Canadian Plays, Vol. 2. 3rd ed.

Ian C. Nelson is assistant director of libraries at the University of
Saskatchewan and président, La Troupe du Jour, Regina Summer Stage.

Since its first appearance in 1985, Modern Canadian Plays has been an
unprecedented success as a Canadian theatre anthology. In these latest
editions [covering 1967-80 (Vol. 1) and 1977-90 (Vol. 2)], Wasserman, a
professional actor and academic, maintains his usual standard of
excellence.

Changes to Volume 1 include some adjustment in the order of the plays;
the replacement of David French’s rather light and derivative Jitters
with his much more significant Leaving Home; and the addition of John
Van Burek and Bill Glassco’s translation of Michel Tremblay’s Les
belles-soeurs. Changes to Volume 2 also include some adjustment in the
order of the plays.

Few would cavil about the selections made for these anthologies. Nor
would it matter, for Wasserman has included such comprehensive
introductions and analytical appreciations of the plays (and of the
contributions of the playwrights to Canadian drama) that the perspective
is never limiting. Quite the opposite: readers are most likely to be
drawn to reading beyond these selections. The introductions have been
updated to 1994, as has the critical apparatus (biographical and
critical bibliographies and lists of selected reviews). That Wasserman
has managed such comprehensiveness in such a succinct and accessible
format is a major achievement.