The New Grotesque

The theatre of Martin McDonagh and Tracy Letts hasthrilled and titillated audiences across the world. While somecritics have dismissed their writing's popularity as solelyreliant on its violent and shocking subject matter this book proves thattheir plays are among the most important and influential ofcontemporary theatre. In particular this book examines the influence of thegrotesque on their writing providing a historical examination ofthe grotesque and identifies elements of the grotesque in McDonaghand Letts' plays. This book also examines how McDonagh and Lettshave reconfigured the traditional grotesque into a newstyle the new grotesque. Ultimately through their use of thegrotesque McDonagh and Letts have created plays that uniquelydramatize the turmoil and complexity of contemporary life. Theplays examined include: McDonagh's The Beauty Queen of Leenane ThePillowman and The Lieutenant of Inishmore. The chapter on TracyLetts is focused on Killer Joe Bug and August: Osage County