How Did "Anna In The Tropics" Win the Pulitzer?

[RentBoy86]

Posted: 2/16/07 at 3:57pm

I saw a recent production of this done a local graduate program. The technical elements of the show were beautiful, but I thought the story was seriously lacking. I couldn't begin to tell you character names or character motives. I had no clue what the plot was and things seemed jumbled. I'm not quite sure what the point of telling this story was. I'm not sure what the author was trying to accomplish. I think it's a script that when read, reads beautifully, but some of the phrases can be a bit tough for the actor's to say because of the poetry of the lines.

What are you thoughts on the play? Did you like it, if so why? I'm up for hearing both sides of the argument.

[BobbyBubby]

Posted: 2/16/07 at 3:58pm

Slow year.

I do not enjoy this author's work one bit.

[Thesbijean]

Posted: 2/16/07 at 4:03pm

The Pulizter was awarded based on the Spanish Language version of the play I believe.

[AC126748]

Posted: 2/16/07 at 4:05pm

The committee gave the play the Pulitzer based on the text, without any of them having seen a production of it.

Cruz's most recent play, BEAUTY OF THE FATHER, is his best work yet. ANNA is not a favorite of mine, or is TWO SISTER AND A PIANO.

[Yankeefan007]

Posted: 2/16/07 at 4:05pm

My father and I took my mother to see it for Chanukah the year it was out. I didn't expect to love it as much as I did - the cast was perfection and the whole thing was beautiful.

[WOSQ]

Posted: 2/16/07 at 4:11pm

It reads better than it plays.

A lot of plays do and vice versa.

[RentBoy86]

Posted: 2/16/07 at 4:11pm

See, I don't see the beauty in it at all. I was confused as to who's story it was and who I was suppose to care about. So basically by the end of the play, I was just happy to leave. Maybe not knowing what the book "Anna..." was about going in, I was just sorta confused and bored. I think the play is written beautifully, but some of the phrases are just hard to say without cracking a smile because they're borderline cheese.

[Yankeefan007]

Posted: 2/16/07 at 4:19pm

I understand where you're coming from. I wasn't familiar with Karenina going in, either, so it wasn't that.

I think one of the virtues of the Broadway production (that overcame, as you said, the cheeseball factor) was the cast. They all had such great chemistry and co-existed very well.....and Smits/Ruben-Vega were very sexy together.

[WalkOn]

Posted: 2/16/07 at 4:26pm

I loved the play. I read it before I saw it and when I did see it, I only loved it more.

I hope Cruz writes more. He really hit on a streak of passion that was not soap opera but beautifully linked to the same feelings one gets while reading great literature.

[CurtainPullDowner]

Posted: 2/16/07 at 4:28pm

Anna slept with the Pulitzer voters.

[ray-andallthatjazz86]

Posted: 2/16/07 at 5:14pm

I saw this play at a special performance at the Coconut Grove Playhouse and thought it was compelling, poetic, and incredibly romantic. I've never read Anna Karenina so I don't think not knowing the novel has much to do with understanding the play. It's more about life imitating art.
Nilo Cruz went to the same college I was going to at the time of this performance, there was a post-show talk with Cruz and I remember being slightly disappointed because he seemed a bit bored. I don't know what other plays were nominated at the time and I'm not sure if it deserved the Pulitzer but I think it's a fascinating piece.

[RentBoy86]

Posted: 2/16/07 at 5:24pm

At the same play festival, Intimate Appareal performed. I was more captured by that play. It did have a soap-esque quality to it, but I thought the writing and the story were captivating. What do you guys think of that play?

Yankee, I agree, it might have been the production. The acting was seriously lacking any kind of interest or dynamic.

[Vespertine1228]

Posted: 2/17/07 at 11:17am

I have often wondered this myself. I didn't see the Broadway production, but I saw it when the Seattle Rep did it. Quite frankly, the story was a mess. It was in about twenty places at once, and the opening of the second act was hilarious and silly instead of passionate.

What else was it up against that year? There must've been a reason why they just didn't award anything like last year.

[&OneForMahler]

Posted: 2/17/07 at 11:22am

I saw it at a local college last year, and found myself wondering the same thing. I felt like the story was everywhere at times... but I agree that it was beautifully written, and I'd like to read some more of Cruz's plays.