If there's anything better than going to a good play, it's READING a good play.

[I just wanted to share an entry from my blog.]

"I see tons of theatre. All kinds. Broadway, off-Broadway, professional, community, school -- everywhere. I see a lot of good productions and a lot of pitiful ones.

I read lots of theatre, too. Plays. I've been reading a LOT of truly mediocre ones, lately. About two years ago I read Sara Ruhl's THE CLEAN HOUSE and it became my favorite new work. Nothing, in my opinion, has surpassed it since. I got real angry at the fact that new plays I've been reading are just mediocre. So I went back to catch up on some classics that I haven't yet read.

This morning, for the first time, I read A RAISIN IN THE SUN. Finally, after two years of reading new plays, I've come across something GOOD, something that surpassed THE CLEAN HOUSE. It's a crying shame I hadn't read it years and years ago, but today it was well worth the wait. This classic piece of American theatre was waiting for me to discover it today.

Oddly enough, I don't think I will be reading anymore classics I haven't gotten to yet. If anything, it has inspired me to continue reading new plays. The search goes on to find the next great one. I'm trying to find a hero. An unknown playwright whose work is hardly published, the name has never been heard of, but one is the hope of the future of American theatre."

[Many here on BWW may have recommendations of works to read, and I welcome them. Just don't tell me that the hope of American theatre is Neil LaBute or I may vomit.]

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I said "if"!

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"Just don't tell me that the hope of American theatre is Neil LaBute"

Since Neil is Canadian...

I remember reading Proof and being blown away.

Good plays are so hard to find, since only the most popular ones are published. Not that there's anything wrong with them, but the really good obscure ones can't be bought.

I'd love to get my hands on an original Sweeney Todd manuscript. The real thing that Angela and the others used during rehearsals, made notes on, split their coffee on and covered in their cigarette ashes.

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My favorite two play scripts were Angels in America and Nicholas Nickleby. Both were absorbing, and the details I missed seeing them live were all there, enabling me to thoroughly re-enjoy each property with my memories of the cast members.

verynewyorkcurious: The Pillowman is great. It's very disturbing, but great nonetheless.

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Glad you enjoyed your plays!

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and the 1st time i read Dog Sees God i fell off the sofa laughing at how funny it was

Really? I saw it live and thought it was one of the worst, most cliched plays I have seen.

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I just read a bunch of Tennessee Williams over winter break and was blown away by the experience of reading Orpheus Descending. One of the most intense experiences I've had reading ANYTHING.

Hey Ray, don't you think describing something as 'cliche' is just a tiny bit - in fact -CLICHE? But alas, I'm sure you are going to make an amazing theatre critic when you grow up. "Inspiring, thrilling, captivating, and mind-blowing." Here are a few more choice words to add to your vocabulary: "clever," "sophomoric," "intriguing," "trite."

Dude, I'll bet one day the Gainesville theatre community will quake in their boots at the very mention of your name.

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Thanks for the shout out, Craig!

"Just don't tell me that the hope of American theatre is Neil LaBute"

Since Neil is Canadian...

Wrong! Neil is American. I happen to like his plays. He has his own unique voice.

I love Neil LaBute too...

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Well, "sir," (better than 'dude'?) you keep reading those big boy plays and you'll find yourself in the rich and rewarding career of trashing theatre online. And don't sell yourself short. I'm sure it's not going to take you two years. Why, reading your other comments on various other boards, I'd say you have enough negativity in you to spread your wings and fly right away.

Follow your dreams, little buddy. You are inspiring, thrilling, captivating, and mind-blowing.

Your new friend,
The proud author of the worst and most cliched play you've ever seen

I can't imagine that DOG SEES GOD read any better than it played. Yeah, it was a pretty tired little evening in the theatre, like an extended Saturday Night Live sketch. Pathetic.

There are plays I like to read, like Albee and Shakespeare. I can't imagine that Martin McDonagh's plays read as well as they play. I loved every minute of LIEUTENANT OF INISHMORE, but can't bring myself to read it.

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