The Five Plays That Sum Up American Life

In your opinion, what five plays collectively form the best overall picture of American life? I suppose musicals could be included.

State why you chose the ones you did, if you can.

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Long Day's Journey Into Night

Our Town

A Streetcar Named Desire

Glass Menagerie
Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?
Our Town
Death of a Salesman
Raisin in the Sun

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Death of A Salesman -- deftly examines the widespread and omnipresent obsession nearly all Americans have with the American dream and what happens to those who are incapable of achieiving it.

Angels in America -- a panaramic study of the last quarter century of American history touching on issues of race, class, gender, sexuality, illness and religion, pointedly critiquing an evil and corrupt conservative power stucture more concerned with amassing power than helping its citizens (and is still very much with us)

Joe Turner's Come and Gone (and several other August Wilson plays) -- a potent rumination on slavery (which some have called this country's "original sin"), Jim Crow and the lasting effects and wounds it continues to inflict.

Our Town -- a uniquely American view of life in a small town that has proven to have appeal all around the world

And for the last one, I have a few picks (so I reserve the right to change my mind)

How about 1776? It entertainingly presents the story of the Declaration of Independence and the founding of our country -- our common rights, ideals, values and national identity. It probably personifies what "American life" was, is and aspires to be as well as any theatre piece I could name.

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Updated On: 4/23/07 at 08:37 PM

I think Ragtime (though a musical and not a play) sums up a lot of where this country started. As Margo said, Americans are obsessed with the American dream. This is clearly seen throughout the show in Mother's search for a better home life, Tateh's search for a better, more opportunistic life, and Coalhouse's search for a more just life.

I don't know. I think it works. But alas, it was a book first.

I totally agree with Ragtime, for its ability to explore the immigrant experience in America, the black man's struggle for dignity and respect, and (as in other works mentioned above) the characters' desire for success, happiness and the attainment of the American dream.

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The Odd Couple and 1776.

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I like you, Munk.

What does Godot have to say SPECIFICALLY about American life?

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or about a half dozen others?

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I think that "The Crucible" is once again relevant to American Life as it was in the 1950's. Now, with the profit obsessed cable news media, the smallest spark can ignite a fire of panic.