Political commentary is possible through ""variety"" theatre, this volume contends. Compiled from the April 2000 Theatre Symposium held on the campus of the University of Tennessee-Knoxville, this collection of essays presents a mix of theoretical and practical point from various scholars around the country. What remains to be learned about the political objectives of Brecht's ""Lehrstriuke""? What can we learn from Mordecai Gorelik's political/artistic philosophy that might inform contemporary practice? Is Thornton Wilder's ""Our Town"" the play we've always imagined it to be, or does it challenge the politics of its time? These are only some of the questions addressed by this informative discussion.