Would I enjoy/understand August: Osage County?

[sasquatch_223]

Posted: 10/1/10 at 11:14pm

A regional theatre near where I live is doing August: Osage County next summer. I'm sort of, maybe, interested in going to see it... it seems to be a show that's been very positively received. I'm fourteen and mostly watch/listen to musicals (Company, Guys and Dolls, and La Cage aux Folles are among my favorites—odd combination, I know) but would like to start getting into "straight" plays. Would I understand/enjoy August: Osage County? Is there anything excessively inappropriate in it? (Not that I care (I mean, Company is one of my favorite musicals) but I would feel very awkward watching a sex scene in a theatre full of middle-aged adults.)

Thanks!

[ljay889]

Posted: 10/1/10 at 11:15pm

Could you sit through a 3-and-a-half hour play with two intermissions?
Updated On: 10/1/10 at 11:15 PM

[sasquatch_223]

Posted: 10/1/10 at 11:22pm

Ooh yes, I'd noticed that in the Wikipedia description... I think so. I've never done it before, but I think so. I'm more concerned about the content, though...

[adamgreer]

Posted: 10/1/10 at 11:37pm

There's no sex scenes onstage, but there is lots of cursing and explicit language, if that sort of thing bothers you. Also, while not seen onstage, lots of inappropriate behavior is "discussed." Describing exactly what it is would spoil much of the play.

[sasquatch_223]

Posted: 10/1/10 at 11:40pm

Language doesn't really concern me (adults who try to keep teenagers from ever hearing the f-word are misguided—we hear much, much worse every day at school); thanks for the info!

Stupid question: how do you pronounce "osage"?

edited for random typo.
Updated On: 10/1/10 at 11:40 PM

[BroadwayBound115]

Posted: 10/2/10 at 12:11am

Oh, Sage. It's hard to type it out. The sage is pronounced like rage.

[raulmark]

Posted: 10/2/10 at 12:55am

I think Degrassi and similar Television shows have raised many of the same issues that August: Osage County has....but it has some cursing. nothing we all have not seen before I think you should go for it.
It's awesome watching that much dysfunction on stage
..then when the movie comes out you can compare acting and story structure

[JeaniusIsMe]

Posted: 10/2/10 at 1:02am

I don't think you'll have much of a problem understanding the show or it's themes. If you can make it through the 3.5 hours (which really do fly by), I think you'll have a great time. And I know at 14 I was well aware of all the language and other thematic elements in the play, so so should be fine.

[After Eight]

Posted: 10/2/10 at 1:04am

I don't think you'd have any problem understanding the play. It's hard to say whether you would like it or not since you have no track record with non-musical works by which to judge. It is long, and my feeling is it would have been a better play with substantial cuts. I don't know if it would be the ideal choice as one's first play. Why not try to see some filmed versions of Tennessee Williams's plays to prepare yourself a little.

[BwayTday]

Posted: 10/2/10 at 2:28am

I think this was one of the first professional non-musical I saw. IT was absolutely captivating. But if you are one of those people who feels like they need a big ole song and dance number to keep you entertained, then don't bother.

[bwayphreak234]

Posted: 10/2/10 at 2:37am

I saw the show and the three and a half hours fly by. The play is extremely intense. As everyone else has said, there are a lot of thematic elements and language. If you don't mind that, then you should be fine. As for understanding it, you shouldn't have a problem. You can always read the synopsis before too if you want. This was one of the most intriguing straight plays I have seen and if you are interested in seeing more dramas, then I would see it! Hope this helped!

[dramamama611]

Posted: 10/2/10 at 5:55am

Serious themes and crazy language abound.

THAT being said, I took two busloads of HS kis (from Freshman to Seniors) and they LOVED the piece. (I did have to send a letter home to let parents know about the language.)

Will/can a community group produce a worthy production? Some definitely can. The script is so perfectly written, the story so well crafted, that many should be able to stage this successfully.

[binau]

Posted: 10/2/10 at 6:30am

Has anyone actually seen the show without the Steppenwolf cast/production? Did it work?

Updated On: 10/2/10 at 06:30 AM

[dramamama611]

Posted: 10/2/10 at 6:41am

I didn't even realize that it was AVAILABLE to perform yet.

[binau]

Posted: 10/2/10 at 7:37am

But you do now? (If you don't, I mean, see e.g. Melbourne Theatre Company

http://www.mtc.com.au/tickets/production.aspx?performanceNumber=1569 )

[dramamama611]

Posted: 10/2/10 at 8:16am

I meant available for amatuer groups. (I knew about the Melbourne production and other professional productions.)

[Kad]

Posted: 10/2/10 at 2:06pm

"I meant available for amatuer groups. (I knew about the Melbourne production and other professional productions.)"

I believe it's been available for quite a while.

[sasquatch_223]

Posted: 10/2/10 at 2:15pm

Thanks for all the feedback, everyone, I think I WILL go see August: Osage County (either with a parent or a friend. But definitely NOT my eight-year-old sister.). I've seen a few of the company's productions and they were all fantastic, so I hope this one will be too.

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 10/2/10 at 2:22pm

Heh, no, please don't take your eight-year-old sister.

I agree that you shouldn't have any problem understanding the play, but that some of the language/themes might make you a bit uncomfortable to see with your parents, for example. If you can get to a library or a bookstore, thumb through the script for a bit before making your decision.

[bwaylvsong]

Posted: 10/2/10 at 2:25pm

Seriously, see it! I wouldn't see it with a parent, though; I'd either go with a friend or alone. The 3.5 hours feel like 35 minutes.

[adamgreer]

Posted: 10/2/10 at 4:04pm

I wouldn't recommend any thumbing through of the script. Part of what makes the play so good is being surprised as things are revealed.

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 10/2/10 at 4:13pm

I purposefully said "thumb through" instead of "read," or even "skim." Just enough to take a look at the language and see if that's the kind of stuff you would feel uncomfortable seeing with your parents, not enough to get an idea of the (many) surprises.

Updated On: 10/2/10 at 04:13 PM