The Five Plays That Sum Up American Life

[StickToPriest]

Posted: 4/23/07 at 8:01pm

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.

[Mr Roxy]

Posted: 4/23/07 at 8:02pm

One has to be Death of A Salesman

[Yankeefan007]

Posted: 4/23/07 at 8:04pm

Long Day's Journey Into Night

[Mr Roxy]

Posted: 4/23/07 at 8:05pm

Cat On A Hot Tin Roof

[kyle.]

Posted: 4/23/07 at 8:05pm

Our Town

[Wanna Be A Foster]

Posted: 4/23/07 at 8:07pm

Stone Cold Dead Serious

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

[e]

Posted: 4/23/07 at 8:07pm

A Streetcar Named Desire

[thevolleyballer]

Posted: 4/23/07 at 8:07pm

SUNSET BLVD sure as hell sums up Hollywood life. I don't know if the same can be said about American, though.

[dfwtheatreguy]

Posted: 4/23/07 at 8:19pm

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

[BigFatBlonde]

Posted: 4/23/07 at 8:35pm

Our American Cousin

[MargoChanning]

Posted: 4/23/07 at 8:37pm

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.

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

[dfwtheatreguy]

Posted: 4/23/07 at 8:40pm

wait I want to add one or two....some more modern takes on it

Fat Pig by Neil Labute
The Mercy Seat by Labute
Ominum Gatherum by Teresa Rebeck
Crave by Sarah Kane
Topdog, Underdog by Suzan Lori Parks

[jjoey076]

Posted: 4/23/07 at 10:21pm

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.

[Elphie3]

Posted: 4/23/07 at 10:25pm

Our Town

[MargoChanning]

Posted: 4/23/07 at 11:02pm

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.

[jjoey076]

Posted: 4/23/07 at 11:09pm

Oh wow. This is momentous. Margo and I agree!

[NathanLaneStalker]

Posted: 4/23/07 at 11:25pm

The Odd Couple and 1776.

[munkustrap178]

Posted: 4/23/07 at 11:25pm

1. Wicked because it shows that even being different is okay.

2. Spring Awakening bcause it's revolutionary and groundbreaking.

3. Legally Blonde because it shows that you should never judge a book by its cover.

4. The Wild Party (Lippa) because it shows that even drug addicts and alcoholics can belt goodly.

5. Brooklyn because it shows that homeless people are people too.

[jjoey076]

Posted: 4/23/07 at 11:28pm

I like you, Munk.

[ashbash1990]

Posted: 4/23/07 at 11:39pm

-The Glass Menagerie
-Waiting for Godot
-Whose Afraid of Virgina Woolf?
-Chicago (the Musical, a look into just how fair our Legal system can be)
-The Good Woman of Setzuan (I once saw a brilliant production set in inner-city chicago, it worked very well)

[MargoChanning]

Posted: 4/24/07 at 12:00am

What does Godot have to say SPECIFICALLY about American life?

[blaxx]

Posted: 4/24/07 at 12:04am

Or Kane's Crave for that matter.

[MargoChanning]

Posted: 4/24/07 at 12:05am

or about a half dozen others?

[StickToPriest]

Posted: 4/24/07 at 12:13am

My list should be taken lightly, as I've still yet to read a lot of classics (O'Neill and August Wilson among them). I'm on a play reading kick right now though, so I'll get to them shortly. But I have two I can put on for sure.

Death of a Salesman: Because, as previously stated, it shows the importance of the American Dream and what happens when it is not achieved, which happens far too often.

Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?: Because it is not only an examination of certain American relationships and the upper middle-class, but it illustrates America's need for illusions and what happens when those illusions disappear.

[PirelisMiracleElixir]

Posted: 4/24/07 at 12:39am

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.