Has Anyone Read These Plays?

[millie_dillmount]

Posted: 7/2/07 at 8:47pm

I got my textbook list for a course I'm taking, Literary Types: Drama. I'm going to read summaries online prior to taking the class and reading the actual plays, but I was just wondering if anyone knew anything about these titles and what they enjoyed and didn't:

Oedipus Tyrannus - Sophocles
Doubt - John Patrick Shanley
Copenhagen - Michael Frayn
Wit - Margaret Edson
Doctor Faustus - Christopher Marlowe
Bacchae - Euripedes
The Tempest - Shakespeare
Arms and the Man - George Bernard Shaw
Tartuffe - Moliere

I've heard of Doubt (and saw the tour), The Tempest, and Tartuffe.

Updated On: 7/3/07 at 08:47 PM

[dramarama2]

Posted: 7/2/07 at 8:54pm

I've read...

The Tempest = My favourite shakespeare play

I've heard of wit. Is it meant to be one of those controversial "ground-breaking" plays?

[SueleenGay]

Posted: 7/2/07 at 9:03pm

Brilliant list of both classic and new classics in the making. Why don't you read the PLAYS instead of reading a summary?

[Wicked63]

Posted: 7/2/07 at 9:05pm

Copenhagenn is on CD and DVD -the actual play

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 7/2/07 at 9:07pm

After you read Wit, you should check out the film. Emma Thompson is in it and she's brilliant.

[Johnnytoc]

Posted: 7/2/07 at 9:11pm

Doubt is very good.
Doctor Faustus is a bit dry for my tastes, but a classic none the less.

Random, I Love Emma Thompson .

Posted: 7/2/07 at 9:37pm

Not to sound horribly snobby but you've not heard of many of these plays?? they're all pretty famous--anyway I think if you love theatre any and all are worth reading--nto just summaries (the older ones can be a bit of a chore to read through sometimesbut th emodern ones would onlyt ake an hour or two to read anyway)

[jv92]

Posted: 7/2/07 at 9:55pm

They're all great.

[SeanMartin]

Posted: 7/2/07 at 10:04pm

Okay...

OEDIPUS REX (Oedipus Tyrannus is a really awful translation of a perfectly straight forward title) is one of THE great classic tragedies of all time. ALL time. It's one of a trilogy by Sophocles, who, as a playwright, deserves a little more than passing nod.

BACCHAE is by the Greek playwright who invested depth of emotion into theatre. His characters, particularly his women, are far more fully realized. BACCHAE is likewise part of a trilogy that you might want to read in order to fully appreciate the arc of the characters' story.

DOCTOR FAUSTUS is of course the Faust story (and I trust I'm not overestimating in assuming you know the Faust legend), although Marlowe takes a more philosophical approach to the story than, say, Goethe.

To be frank, it's an odd mix of plays, but the earliest ones are ones that should be on every theatre student's reading list from Year One. If you dont understand where we came from, you cant really appreciate where we are now.

Finally, you will NOT get the kind of info you want from these boards. I doubt that 5% of the people who frequent these fora have read half of those plays. Go experience them on your own.

[nomdeplume]

Posted: 7/3/07 at 12:19am

Euripedes' play is the biggie of that bunch (and the title, by the by, is The Bacchae).

I love his The Trojan Women also.

A humanist capable of writing great parts for women, as so many playwrights, particulary male ones, are not.

My next favorite is Shakespeare's The Tempest for the rich levels of understanding of spiritualism throughout and the GREAT quotes.

The only one I haven't read or seen is Doubt.

Someone who did know Shaw, for he lived into his 90's, pointed out wryly that I reminded him of him. Let us just say, if you read Harry Potter, that I am capable of sending a howler when deserved and he was known to do the same. Any Shaw is good, but I'm a big fan of his St. Joan. And when Shaw wrote plays they were expected to be a whole evening's entertainment of a good three hours plus with multiple intermissions, so be prepared.

If you want to see a great Tartuffe, Gerard Depardieu at about 20 and looking like a young Marlon Brando, seek out the French film. Great fun and great acting.

[ashley0139]

Posted: 7/3/07 at 12:25am

W;t (it's actually supposed to be written like that) is fabulous. One of my favorites. And the movie is great.

[blaxx]

Posted: 7/3/07 at 12:30am

although Marlowe takes a more philosophical approach to the story than, say, Goethe.

Oh couldn't disagree more - Marlowe's is much more accesible, especially against Goethe's Part II, which could leave anyone without taking a serious class on the play very very lost.

[millie_dillmount]

Posted: 7/3/07 at 12:31am

"Why don't you read the PLAYS instead of reading a summary?"

Well, duh, I am...it's for a class. I meant I wanted to read the summaries before I took the class and bought the books...

Thanks for the other input, guys!

Updated On: 7/3/07 at 12:31 AM

[SeanMartin]

Posted: 7/3/07 at 7:28am

>> Oh couldn't disagree more - Marlowe's is much more accesible, especially against Goethe's Part II, which could leave anyone without taking a serious class on the play very very lost.

You misunderstand. Marlowe is more interested in the ideas that come from making this kind of deal with the devil, while Goethe is far more interested in the theology behind such a move. Goethe really doesnt care much for Faust as a character, just as a springboard. Marlowe looks harder at what would drive a man to do such a thing in the first place.