The Iceman Cometh is a play written by Eugene O'Neill, the first American playwright to win the Nobel Prize in Literature. Completed in 1939, the play was delayed in production until after World War II, eventually premiering in 1946.

The narrative focuses on a group of alcoholics and misfits who gather in a saloon, endlessly discussing their dreams but never acting on them. The central character, Hickey, is a traveling salesman determined to strip them of their pipe dreams.

Despite its initial mixed reviews, The Iceman Cometh has grown in stature over the decades, with renowned actors such as Kevin Spacey and James Earl Jones taking on key roles. This dark and intense play is now recognized as a significant work in American drama.

Measure for Measure is among the most passionately discussed of Shakespeare’s plays. In it, a duke temporarily removes himself from governing his city-state, deputizing a member of his administration, Angelo, to enforce the laws more rigorously.

Angelo chooses as his first victim Claudio, condemning him to death because he impregnated Juliet before their marriage. Claudio’s sister Isabella, who is entering a convent, pleads for her brother’s life. Angelo attempts to extort sex from her, but Isabella preserves her chastity.

The duke, in disguise, eavesdrops as she tells her brother about Angelo’s behavior, then offers to ally himself with her against Angelo.

Modern responses to the play show how it can be transformed by its reception in present culture to evoke continuing fascination. To some, the duke (the government) seems meddlesome; to others, he is properly imposing moral standards. Angelo and Isabella’s encounter exemplifies sexual harassment. Others see a woman’s right to control her body in Isabella’s choice between her virginity and her brother’s life.

Man and Superman is a powerful drama of ideas by George Bernard Shaw, first written in 1901. Shaw intended to encapsulate the new century's intellectual inheritance by drawing inspiration from a wide range of sources, including Byron's verse satire, Shakespeare, and authors such as Conan Doyle and Kipling.

The play explores the role of the artist, the function of women in society, and Shaw's theory of Creative Evolution. It is a satirical and buoyant exposé of the eternal struggle between the sexes, combining seriousness with comedy. The drama follows the story of Ann Whitefield, who becomes the joint ward of two men: the respectable Roebuck Ramsden and John Tanner, author of "The Revolutionist’s Handbook." Believing marriage would prevent him from achieving his higher intellectual and political ambitions, Tanner is horrified to discover that Ann intends to marry him. He flees to Spain, with the determined young woman in hot pursuit.

The chase leads them to the underworld, where the characters’ alter egos engage in a lively debate on human nature and philosophy in a scene often performed separately as "Don Juan in Hell." Shaw combines elements of comedy and serious philosophical discourse to create a work that remains a classic of twentieth-century English theatre.

First published in 1956, Peyton Place uncovers the passions, lies, and cruelties that simmer beneath the surface of a postcard-perfect town. At the center of the novel are three women, each with a secret to hide:

Constance MacKenzie, the original desperate housewife; her daughter Allison, whose dreams are stifled by small-town small-mindedness; and Selena Cross, her gypsy-eyed friend from the wrong side of the tracks.

This novel is a deep dive into the hidden truths and societal norms of 1950s America, capturing the essence of a seemingly idyllic community fraught with underlying tension and drama.

An Enemy of the People is a gripping play by Norwegian playwright Henrik Ibsen, written in 1882. It tells the story of Dr. Thomas Stockmann, a medical officer who is tasked with inspecting the public baths that are crucial to the prosperity of his hometown. When he discovers that the water is contaminated, he faces immense pressure to remain silent.

Refusing to be silenced, Dr. Stockmann becomes a voice of truth, challenging the hypocrisy and corruption of the societal and political systems. His determination to reveal the truth, despite being branded as an enemy of the people, underscores the timeless theme of standing up for what is right, even when it means standing alone.

This play remains one of Ibsen's most frequently performed works, offering a critical look at the conflicts between morality and community, truth and convenience.

Christopher and Cathy have made a loving home for their handsome and talented teenager Jory, their imaginative nine-year-old Bart, and a sweet baby daughter. Then an elderly woman and her strange butler move in next door. The Old Woman in Black watches from her window, lures lonely Bart inside with cookies and ice cream, and asks him to call her “grandmother.”

Slowly Bart transforms, each visit pushing him closer to the edge of madness and violence, while his anguished parents can only watch. For Cathy and Chris, the horrors of the past have come home…and everything they love may soon be torn from them.

La Regenta is a masterpiece penned by Leopoldo Alas, also known as "Clarín". This novel paints a vivid picture of the bourgeois and urban society, dominated by a decadent nobility, selfish clergy, and political bosses.

The story revolves around Ana Ozores, a representative of this society, caught in the throes of seduction and adultery. Influenced by the naturalist school rooted in Zola and Maupassant, yet still tied to romantic arguments, this work is heralded as the best novel of 19th-century Spain.

Set in the conservative provincial town of Vetusta, Ana, married to a retired magistrate, seeks fulfillment through religion and even adultery. This quest sparks a bitter conflict between a powerful priest and a would-be Don Juan for Ana's body and soul, offering a searing critique of the Church and a frank treatment of societal norms.