SubUrbia
by Eric Bogosian
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Read in March, 2007
recommends it for:
Theater Lovers
I saw a performance of this play in 1999, and finally got a copy of the script to read it to relive the experience. I have to say, it's a much performance than the script would imply. The main I have with the script is that all characters talk exactly in the same way, so that you're kind of confused. This, of course, would not be a problem in the performance.
SubUrbia is about the meaninglessness of... suburbia. While this was appealing to me when I was 19 years old, as a 26 year old I...more
SubUrbia is about the meaninglessness of... suburbia. While this was appealing to me when I was 19 years old, as a 26 year old I...more
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Read in September, 1996
I read this for an article on Gen X fiction I did years ago. I was a fan of Bogosian's previous monologues, but I thought this one was a severe misfire. It was way too LESS THAN ZERO in its basic premise that the "youth of today" (i.e. the Cobain generation) are (were) affectless, morally inert zombies. It only goes to say that the obligatory dead girl who becomes an object of weird voyeurism was a decade into being a cliched motif by the mid-1990s (c.f. ZERO, RIVER'S EDGE, etc).
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Read in January, 2008
I got this play to find a monologue for my theatre class, and ended up reading the whole thing. I thought it offered some interesting character studies but overall was a little outdated (it's pretty obviously 90's). Also, it seemed like it really wanted to get into suburbs vs. cities, but all it really did was show that the characters were mostly afraid to leave where they were; I'm pretty sure it would have been the same had they all grown up in a city.
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Read in March, 2008
I feel like there's a lot of potential that was never fully explored in this play. Characters are vibrant, and the conflicts are fairly universal without being too bland that they could have had a much bigger impact. Bogosian doesn't seem to shy away from tension and release (and certainly, strong language), but they never quite hit the target; they merely feel wasted.
Overall, a very energetic piece, but seemingly without direction.
Overall, a very energetic piece, but seemingly without direction.
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It's aged terribly, though seeing a very good live performance of it was a far more enjoyable experience than reading the play. Characters I once found funny and interesting now seem like whiny caricatures. I have fond memories of discovering Eric Bogosian's stuff in the early 90's, and in the interest of preserving those memories I don't intend to revisit any more of it.
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Read in January, 2004
This play was an awesome commentary on teenagers growing up and living in American suburbs. Mostly a commentary on Suburbia itself. Great characters, powerful moments.
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Read in January, 2004
This is that movie that really sucked. (same title) And this is the play...so it's a little annoying to read, but the I like the story and dialogue.
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recommends it for:
actors, the under 30 crowd. "new yorker" readers, people who think
I bought this book for my sister. I want through all the plays at borders in the drama section and this one looked the most relevant and hip
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Read in January, 2002
Would love to see a performance of this play. Great commentary, though not as Great as Bogosian's Mall.
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Read in January, 1995
recommends it for:
those who grew up in the shithole oppressive suburbs...
MY FAVOURITE PLAY!!!
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