Reproduction of the original: The Maids Tragedy by Francis Beaumont, John Fletcher

This edition of Beaumont and Fletcher's best tragedy includes a stage history of the play, as well as new information about sources and their relation to the play. Stage action is examined and stage directions improved.

In 1929, an explosion in a Missouri dance hall killed forty-two people. Who was to blame? Mobsters from St Louis? Embittered gypsies? The preacher who cursed the waltzing couples for their sins? Or could it just have been a colossal accident? Alma Dunahew, whose scandalous younger sister was among the dead, believes the answer lies in a dangerous love affair, but no one will listen to a maid from the wrong side of the tracks. It is only decades later that her grandson hears her version of events - and must decide if it is the right one.

ANTIGONE PROJECT is a play in five parts by Tanya Barfield, Karen Hartman, Chiori Miyagawa, 2009 Pulitzer Prize winner Lynn Nottage, and Caridad Svich that reconsiders the story of Antigone from a variety of rich and radical perspectives. With a preface by dramatist Lisa Schlesinger and an introduction by classics scholar Marianne McDonald, this is a unique addition to contemporary drama.

The Maid's Tragedy is a play by Francis Beaumont and John Fletcher. It was first published in 1619. Andrew Gurr, one of the play's modern editors, notes that the play "has that anomaly amongst Elizabethan tragedies, an original plot." Other critics have noted that the play introduces romance into the standard revenge tragedy, and that the play, even in its artificiality, has relevance to the disputes about authority that characterized relations between kings and Parliament in the decades leading up to the English Civil War. Due to its setting on the island of Rhodes, the play has also been read in light of sixteenth-century Ottoman military expansion in the Mediterranean.

"The Maids' Tragedy" by John Fletcher and Francis Beaumont is a captivating Jacobean tragedy that delves into themes of love, loyalty, and betrayal. Set in the court of a fictional Greek king, the play follows the story of Evadne, a noblewoman forced into a marriage of convenience with the king, despite her love for another man, Melantius. As the plot unfolds, Evadne's conflicted feelings and the machinations of those around her lead to a series of tragic events, including secret alliances, political intrigue, and ultimately, a devastating act of revenge. Through its intricate plot and complex characters, "The Maids' Tragedy" explores the consequences of passion, ambition, and the pursuit of power. Fletcher and Beaumont's masterful storytelling and poetic language bring the world of ancient Greece to vivid life, immersing audiences in a world of courtly intrigue and forbidden love. As the characters grapple with their desires and loyalties, they are forced to confront the darker aspects of human nature, including jealousy, greed, and the thirst for vengeance. At its heart, "The Maids' Tragedy" is a timeless exploration of the human condition, offering insights into the complexities of love, honor, and morality. With its compelling narrative and memorable characters, the play continues to captivate audiences with its blend of romance, tragedy, and political drama.