Snoo Wilson begins with a topical drama inspired by a story making the headlines.

And unlike so many topical dramas, this one has the courage to hold on to its unsettling state of emotional imbalance.

Mr. Reilly said he was committed to giving "American Dreams" a chance, having paired it with another topical drama, "The West Wing."

In the words of Cline, both this serial and its predecessor were "well-made topical drama with highly capable and professional casts."

It may be that it will lead to more topical dramas.

That same year he wrote his Horace at the University of Athens, a topical drama in verse, parts of which are said to have offended William Whewell and lost Trevelyan a fellowship.

The only sour note in Mr. Royal's debut play (which he also directed) is the abrupt second-act switch from affectionate pop parody to gruesome topical drama.

Mizrakh soon after released a topical four-reel drama, "War and the Jews," featuring the "heroic act" of a Jewish double agent.

To the creator and supervising producer of "Midnight Caller," Richard DiLello, that story represented the kind of urgent, hard-hitting topical drama he wanted to bring to the series.

Most recently, Aaron starred in the potent and topical political drama "In Darfur" both at The Public and The Delacorte Theater.