Merritt Abrash 
Absurdist Angles on History 
Three Plays

The plays in Absurdist Angles on History: Three Plays look at absurdities of modern history from three different angles. How World War I Happened applies absurdist dramatic treatment to the outbreak of the war, an episode largely absurd to start with. The wishful thinking and frivolous motivations of the main actors are more effectively highlighted by absurdist exaggeration than by customary historical analysis. How Karl Got Over His Bad Dream applies an absurdist twist to the origins of Marx and Freuds key theories an angle offering insights into the theories themselves at the same time as extracting maximum humor from farcical interpretations. How it All Might Have Ended, which has been professionally produced, posits a post nuclear war world with few survivors a situation acknowledged during the cold war to be an actual possibility. The dramatic treatment in this case is not absurdist, since the human race placing itself at such risk is a fact absurd enough not to need enhancement. Although this play, in common with How World War I Happened, is for the most part comedic, both conclude in despair at Western civilizations self inflicted damage from chronic shortsightedness and perilous priorities.

Circa l’autore

Merritt Abrash was well positioned to write Absurdist Angles on History: Three Plays, thanks to a background in both history and playwriting. His historical expertise centers on areas receiving absurdist treatment in the first two plays: nineteenth century Europe, and the First World War. The third play, “How It All Might Have Ended, ” – about nuclear catastrophe – was professionally produced at the Berkshire Theatre Festival under the title “Postscript.” Abrash, a former fellow at the Eugene O’Neill National Playwrights Conference, has written on art history, utopian studies and science fiction as well as diplomatic history. Since retiring from teaching, he has published a novel, Mindful of Utopia, with 1st Books Library.