Abstract
One of the more interesting dramatic phenomena of the past decade is Marc Connelly’s play, The Green Pastures. The play is unique both in subject and in method. It has for its subject a Southern Negro’s imaginative picture of Biblical history; for its method, a narrative sequence of episodes presented dramatically. Nothing like it can be found in the modern drama. One must go back to the medieval mystery play for its prototype. The Green Pastures might be called a modern mystery in black terms. Whether or not Mr. Connelly deliberately modeled his play after the old, is beside the point. It is most significant, however, that a play whose subject matter is Genesis and whose structure is medieval has succeeded in attracting the modern sceptical(sic) and sophisticated theatre(sic) audience. And that the play is dramatically effective is proved by its long run on Broadway and its successful tour of the states. That it is considered an outstanding contribution to American drama is evidenced by the fact that it was awarded the Pulitzer Prize for 1929-30.