WRITING THE HISTORY PLAY

WRITING THE HISTORY PLAY: "Why dramatists lie in the pursuit of truth
by Charles Deemer

(originally published in Oregon Magazine)

The recent Hollywood blockbuster 'Pearl Harbor,' for
all the disappointment of its plodding love and buddy
stories, generated the usual amount of controversy
that arises whenever Hollywood brings history to the
screen. In Letters to the Editor and Op-Ed pieces
across the country, historians were quick to point out
the inaccuracies and historical short-comings of the
film. Typically, many of these comments reflected a
basic misunderstanding of the task of the historical
dramatist, whether writing for film or stage.

I've written an unusual amount of historical material
for a playwright and so am well aware of the ways in
which dramatists and historians can come into
conflict. I want to defend the task of the historical
dramatist by giving you a case history of my most
recent history play, a short reworking of material I
first put together for a Bicentennial Play. This
material focuses on a dramatic character in our early
history, a forgotten 'Founding Father.'"

Click link above for full essay.