If there's anything better than going to a good play, it's READING a good play.
If there's anything better than going to a good play, it's READING a good play.
#1If there's anything better than going to a good play, it's READING a good play.
Posted: 2/18/08 at 11:56am
[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.]
--Aristotle
Phyllis Rogers Stone
Broadway Legend Joined: 9/16/07
#2re: If there's anything better than going to a good play, it's READING a good play.
Posted: 2/18/08 at 11:57amReading a play is better than going to a play?
#2re: If there's anything better than going to a good play, it's READING a good play.
Posted: 2/18/08 at 11:58am
I said "if"! 
--Aristotle
Phyllis Rogers Stone
Broadway Legend Joined: 9/16/07
#3re: If there's anything better than going to a good play, it's READING a good play.
Posted: 2/18/08 at 12:00pmRight.
#4re: If there's anything better than going to a good play, it's READING a go
Posted: 2/18/08 at 12:28pm
"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.
#5re: If there's anything better than going to a good play, it's READING a go
Posted: 2/18/08 at 12:57pm
I needed good play recommendations, so thanks. I looked into The Clean House, it looks like something I might enjoy.
How is The Pillowman?
#6re: If there's anything better than going to a good play, it's READING a go
Posted: 2/18/08 at 1:00pmMy 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.
RoseStopnikCooks
Stand-by Joined: 12/19/07
#7re: If there's anything better than going to a good play, it's READING a go
Posted: 2/18/08 at 1:08pmPROOF is a wonderful play. But the only good one Auburn has written.
#8re: If there's anything better than going to a good play, it's READING a go
Posted: 2/18/08 at 1:18pmverynewyorkcurious: The Pillowman is great. It's very disturbing, but great nonetheless.
#9re: If there's anything better than going to a good play, it's READING a go
Posted: 2/18/08 at 1:22pm
Reading a good play is hardly as inspiring, thrilling, captivating, and mind-blowing as watching a good play with a great cast and wonderful direction live.
My favorite plays to read are ANGELS IN AMERICA, THE GLASS MENAGERIE, and HAMLET.
#10re: If there's anything better than going to a good play, it's READING a go
Posted: 2/18/08 at 2:13pmGlad you enjoyed your plays!
#11re: If there's anything better than going to a good play, it's READING a go
Posted: 2/18/08 at 2:15pmI read Angels In America before i got cast in it and was blown away , and the 1st time i read Dog Sees God i fell off the sofa laughing at how funny it was
#12re: If there's anything better than going to a good play, it's READING a go
Posted: 2/18/08 at 2:24pm
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.
#13re: If there's anything better than going to a good play, it's READING a go
Posted: 2/18/08 at 2:30pmaww i loved it, i thought it was fantastic, very funny and very clever, i think Bert did a great job
#14re: If there's anything better than going to a good play, it's READING a go
Posted: 2/18/08 at 3:12pmI 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.
#15re: If there's anything better than going to a good play, it's READING a go
Posted: 2/18/08 at 3:18pm
I love SWEET BIRD OF YOUTH by Williams.
Broadway Blog: Broadway Star Bingo IV
BVR24
Swing Joined: 2/24/06
#16re: If there's anything better than going to a good play, it's READING a go
Posted: 2/19/08 at 2:12am
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.
***
Thanks for the shout out, Craig!
#17re: If there's anything better than going to a good play, it's READING a go
Posted: 2/19/08 at 2:20am
I'm sorry, I wasn't aware that this was my sample article to get hired by the Gainesville Sun. Damn, my choice words didn't cut it for BVR24. Thanks for adding words to my vocabulary, "dude."
Gainesville theater community, watch out, as you can tell from my best work (which is obviously found on my two sentence-posts on BWW.com) I am the tough critic you gotta please in a couple more years (it will take a couple of years for me to absorb all of the great knowledge BVR24 has to offer to me, of course).
And, by the way, I thought that calling something that IS cliched by its name, isn't well...considered cliched, I thought it was called using an appropriate adjective to describe a piece, my bad. Guess you have a lot to teach me BVR24.
A Director
Broadway Legend Joined: 12/18/07
#18re: If there's anything better than going to a good play, it's READING a go
Posted: 2/19/08 at 3:54am
"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.
COOOOLkid
Broadway Legend Joined: 8/15/05
#19re: If there's anything better than going to a good play, it's READING a go
Posted: 2/19/08 at 4:14amI loved The Pillowman. Reading it wasn't as thrilling as having somebody tell you those stories.
#20re: If there's anything better than going to a good play, it's READING a go
Posted: 2/19/08 at 6:42amI love Neil LaBute too...
#21re: If there's anything better than going to a good play, it's READING a go
Posted: 2/19/08 at 7:36amno probs BVR24 XXXXXXX
BVR24
Swing Joined: 2/24/06
#22re: If there's anything better than going to a good play, it's READING a go
Posted: 2/19/08 at 2:25pm
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
#23re: If there's anything better than going to a good play, it's READING a go
Posted: 2/19/08 at 2:29pm
"The proud author of the worst and most cliched play you've ever seen"
haha well it better bloody not be coz we have a sell out audience coming to see us do it lol
Roscoe
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/15/03
#24re: If there's anything better than going to a good play, it's READING a go
Posted: 2/19/08 at 2:31pm
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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