a netflix system for plays

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a netflix system for plays

Posted: 3/13/07 at 12:38am

There should be a netflix styled-system for books/plays.

Just sayin'.

"The Spectacle has, indeed, an emotional attraction of its own, but, of all the parts, it is the least artistic, and connected least with the art of poetry. For the power of Tragedy, we may be sure, is felt even apart from representation and actors. Besides, the production of spectacular effects depends more on the art of the stage machinist than on that of the poet."
--Aristotle

re: a netflix system for plays

Posted: 3/13/07 at 12:40am

Has papalovesmambo hacked your account?

re: a netflix system for plays

Posted: 3/13/07 at 12:41am

THAT being said - I highly recommend Sara Ruhl's A CLEAN HOUSE. It is only available in a book of a collection of her works published by the Theatre Communications Group (TCG) called THE CLEAN HOUSE AND OTHER PLAYS.

Anyone care to recommend a newer, contemporary play?

re: a netflix system for plays

Posted: 3/13/07 at 12:41am

I totally agree. I hear their coming up with an idea like that. I think its going to be called a Library. Where you can take out any book you want and barrow it for as long as it takes to read it, then when you return it you get another one. And the catch? Its FREE!

"Have they come yet?"

re: a netflix system for plays

Posted: 3/13/07 at 12:45am

myManCape,

That's a clever concept, however I can forsee some issues with that:

1) What if you are lazy or don't have a car?
2) What if your nearest library doesn't have the book you want?

re: a netflix system for plays

Posted: 3/13/07 at 2:38am

Then you arrange an interlibrary loan. It's always worked for me.

re: a netflix system for plays

Posted: 3/13/07 at 2:47am

…but it’s not convenient enough! I want it delivered to my door!!!

re: a netflix system for plays

Posted: 3/13/07 at 4:38am

I love interlibrary loan...kind of. My grandma's book is now out of print and the only way I could get my hands on a copy was through ILL, but I didn't want to give it back

Your fupa is showing.

re: a netflix system for plays

Posted: 3/13/07 at 6:24am

Plays are not common in most public libraries across the country. They'll have the big, Pulitzer Prize-winning, Tennessee Williams/Arthur Miller/Shakespeare fare, but for anything written post-1960, you're outta luck. Interlibrary loans are nice, but it's not like you can ask for the entire works of Tom Stoppard to simultaneously be shipped to your home library in Podunk, Iowa. My library system has a limit of 2 ILLs at the same time and it can take weeks to receive them. I can read a play in less than 2 hours. I don't want to disregard the impact of these works, but is it really worth the months of effort if you only want to read them once?

Like a firework unexploded
Wanting life but never knowing how

#10

re: a netflix system for plays

Posted: 3/13/07 at 11:25am

Worth months of effort? Sure! But very inconvienient. Especially if you are a student and you're searching for monologues (ahem).

The only issues I forsee with the proposed library system is 1) keeping the books in readable condition, and 2) shipping. Shipping prices won't be the same since books come in all different shapes and sizes.

Still, I think it can be done. And if I had enough money and know-how to get it going, I'd do it in a heartbeat. It's a wonderful service to provide - not to mention the millions you would make.

#11

re: a netflix system for plays

Posted: 3/13/07 at 11:43am

I agree that this would be a wonderful idea!! Buying plays adds up FAST, and the dramatic stock of most public libraries is a little depleted (orangeskittles). So far at our library, I've found a whole lot of Williams, Miller, and O'Neill, Shakespeare criticisms, "Popular one-acts of 1982" and only one remarkable gem: Buried Child, by Sam Shepard. Other than that, not much at all. They don't even have Angels in America!! argh.

Whenever someone starts something like this, I am first in line.

By the way, if anyone wants a really good play, take a look at "The Illusion" by Tony Kushner. It's my current dramatic obsession, and well worth the cost of the book.

"The art of Illusion is the art of love; and the art of love is the blood-red heart of the world." - Tony Kushner, "The Illusion"

#12

re: a netflix system for plays

Posted: 3/13/07 at 11:51am

I recommend DOG SEES GOD: CONFESSIONS OF A TEENAGE BLOCKHEAD by Bert V. Royal. I heard about it when it was playing in New York so while I was in New York last week I went to the Drama Bookshop and read the play. I ended up purchasing it.

There's a full list of plays I want to read, but at $6+ per play, I don't have that kind of money. And it would take YEARS for my local library to get all of those titles.

I have read the canons of Shakespeare, Williams, Miller, and Kaufman, thank you very much. NEXT!

And what I really want are the newer plays. The really popular ones end up at Barnes & Noble. I have seen RABBIT HOLE and THE HISTORY BOYS at B&N and will spend a 3 hour trip to read those. But DOG SEES GOD? Nowhere but New York.

#13

re: a netflix system for plays

Posted: 3/13/07 at 11:57am

I want a service where a maid comes to your home and does all the laundry and cleans your house. And maybe brings me a pony. And it should be free. Or maybe pay me.

#14

re: a netflix system for plays

Posted: 3/13/07 at 12:01pm

If you just want to read them once. Why doesn't someone develop a website where you could have access to plays as text files, that could maybe even be printed out for a fee.

"If you've got something to say, say it, and think well of yourself while you're learning to say it better." - David Mamet

#15

re: a netflix system for plays

Posted: 3/13/07 at 12:03pm

Because that would be a copyright violation.

"How do you like THAT 'misanthropic panache,' Mr. Goldstone?" - PalJoey

#16

re: a netflix system for plays

Posted: 3/13/07 at 12:22pm

There is a site called Paperbackswap.com. You list books that you're willing to send to other people (and essentially not see again) For each book that you send out, you receive credits to use to select ones you would like to receive from other members. It's free to join - all you pay is the shipping on a book you mail out (media rate - normally under $2). I haven't used it yet but a friend of mine joined and loves it. On the home page, there was a copy of Sunday in the Park with George. Might be worthwhile to search for plays. Maybe there's a way to borrow the idea for a site that specializes in plays.

#17

re: a netflix system for plays

Posted: 3/13/07 at 12:29pm

There is a really fun website called bookcrossing.com

You leave books all around and find other books around your area and it is part scavenger hunt/part awesome reading experience. I do it with books that don't sell on my EBAY site.

It is fun and it allows people to read and to find out where the book has been, who has read it and what they thought about it.

"Whenever I get gloomy with the state of the world, I think about the arrivals gate at Heathrow Airport. General opinion's starting to make out that we live in a world of hatred and greed, but I don't see that. It seems to me that love is everywhere. Often it's not particularly dignified or newsworthy, but it's always there - fathers and sons, mothers and daughters, husbands and wives, boyfriends, girlfriends, old friends. When the planes hit the Twin Towers, as far as I know none of the phone calls from the people on board were messages of hate or revenge - they were all messages of love. If you look for it, I've got a sneaky feeling you'll find that love actually is all around."

#18

re: a netflix system for plays

Posted: 3/13/07 at 12:47pm

Clean House is brilliant.

The Pillowman is also a great read....and it reads like a novel.

#19

re: a netflix system for plays

Posted: 3/13/07 at 12:54pm

Because that would be a copyright violation.

I think he meant that the publisher would make them available....that is why they could be printed out for a fee. Or the site owner will have an agreement with the publisher.

Actually, that is the way things are going in pubishing. It is taking a while, but eventually most books will be available on-line in some sort arrangement. (Read free on screen, but pay to print, pay to get the PDF, whatever.)

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