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3rd out of 4 books
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3 voters
Christopher Durang Explains it All for You
Few playwrights have explored as relentlessly as Christopher Durang the pain and confusion of everyday life-or made us laugh so uproariously at the results.
Paperback, 320 pages
Published
January 13th 1994
by Grove Press
(first published 1986)
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Chris Durang is a supremely gifted & hilarious writer. Bwy, awash with cliches, needs his creative spirit. 3 plays here are knockouts. 'The Actor's Nightmare,' a tiered cake of comedy, shows what happens when a doofus accidentally finds himself improv'ing Coward & Shakespeare. 'Sister Mary..' reminds us (ouch--!) that relig is about Authority and Humiliation. Catholic or Otherwise, Durang says the Myth never answers Human Suffering. We dare not Question the Godhed. Relig is solely for si...more
Right off the bat, let me say I am not a theater person, so if you are concerned based on the following that I don't recognize genius when I see it, my apologies.
I like 2 out of 6 of the plays in this collection: Sister Mary Ignatius and Beyond Therapy. I get the impression that Sister Mary Ignatius is one of his most famous plays, and I can see why: the structure of the play, with the nun's word as unquestionable (but darkly funny) law at the beginning, which gradually unravels into even more...more
I like 2 out of 6 of the plays in this collection: Sister Mary Ignatius and Beyond Therapy. I get the impression that Sister Mary Ignatius is one of his most famous plays, and I can see why: the structure of the play, with the nun's word as unquestionable (but darkly funny) law at the beginning, which gradually unravels into even more...more
Durang has a lot of great ideas in concept, but that's the thing--they stay in concept. Beyond Therapy is the only one that truly succeeds in drawing any empathy whatsoever, and the fact that the characters are equally as deranged here as in the other plays tell me that Durang is fully capable of melding melodrama with realism.
The other plays, however, are just far too exaggerated and one-sided for my tastes. The Nature and Purpose of the Universe made me chuckle out of immaturity at a few lines...more
The other plays, however, are just far too exaggerated and one-sided for my tastes. The Nature and Purpose of the Universe made me chuckle out of immaturity at a few lines...more
Durang is by turns humorous and horrifying. He holds a very twisted mirror up to the world, and I often see myself there. Even though I'm not a Catholic, I identify with Sister Mary Ignatius and the temptations of blind faith. Sometimes, though, I just want to look away. "Titanic" was silly, and the violence of "The Nature and Purpose of the Universe" seemed unacceptable.
"The Nature and Purpose of the Universe" is just bizarre and absurd, and while the satire is easy to spot, it was a little over the top for me and bordered on offensive. However, if that play doesn't turn you off from the rest of the collection the other plays aren't bad, definitely more humorous and enjoyable than the first one.
Within the six plays there are obvious themes that Christopher Durang likes to write about--religion, homosexuality, outrageous characters and plots. I liked every one of the plays found myself not being able to stop in the middle of one because I was too interested in where the story was going. It's random enough to keep you interested haha.
Oh how I adored Durang's wild rebelliousness when I was younger. Maybe it's a sign of my age that now I see a Neil Simon-esque drive for one-liners and a complete disregard for story masked by all the delightful chaos. I will always be fond of these plays, but they seem odd period pieces written for a very small target audience now.
Amazing, I finished them all really quickly, it was quite amusing.
I still have this on my shelf. Amazing.
If you're a fan of Durang, or comedy writing in general, this is one of the best collections of shorter plays you will find. Durang is a master of comedic timing, and a genius in writing characters who are so flawed that they have no choice but to be hilarious, although they of course take themselves seriously the whole time.
Christopher Durang is my idol. If masturbation to a play were ever possible...well...ahem. Read "Sister Mary Ignatius..." for the popular read, and "The Nature and Purpose of the Universe" for utterly cruel fun.
Quite frankly, these plays are disgusting and perverted. But you won't be able to stop reading them.
these plays are weird, hilarious, pure fun! i love all of his work!
I quite like Durang's plays; I enjoy his sense of humor.
It's all done with white bread and mirrors.
May 19, 2013
Marjorie Newson
marked it as to-read
May 14, 2013
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updated May 01, 2011 12:46pm
May 01, 2011 02:37pm
"Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike."
updated Apr 30, 2013 10:18am