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Three Plays by Mart Crowley: The Boys in the Band / A Breeze from the Gulf / For Reasons That Remain Unclear
Mart Crowley was born in Vicksburg, Miss., and educated at the Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C. This collection brings together three of his most powerful works: the classic The Boys in the Band (1968); A Breeze From the Gulf (1973), which deals with the early life of one of the characters in The Boys in the Band; and the previously unpublished For Reasons That Remain Unclear (1993). Additionally, Crowley wrote the plays Remote Asylum (Ahmanson Theatre, Los Angeles, 1970) and Avec Schmaltz (Williamstown [Mass.] Theatre Festival, 1984), adapted and produced the film version of The Boys in the Band, wrote the television movie adaptation of James Kirkwood's There Must Be a Pony, and produced the TV series Hart to Hart.
368 pages, Hardcover
First published November 22, 1996
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
March 17, 2024
My obsession with The Boys in the Band continues.
3 Plays includes The Boys in the Band, A Breeze from the Gulf and For Reasons That Remain Unclear. The introduction explains that this triad are semi-autibiographical but are in different stages of Mart/Michael's life. I like that the three plays have a reason to be collected together, although that cover is... a choice.
A Breeze from the Gulf is a Michael aged 15 in Act 1, and 25ish in Act 2 and is about the relationship with his parents. Less witty, deeply depressing. I found it so bizarre how a teenager would call out "Daddy" and laughingly join his parents in bed, or maybe that's the point, but it ran more into a "hard to watch" category for me. It was missing Mart's witty lines, as well, but I found it fascinating because I wanted to know more about Mart Crowley. It reminded me The Glass Menagerie, but much longer and much more depressing.
The Boys in the Band, the big one, is Michael at 30 and revolves around Harold's birthday party, a party-crasher, and a whole lot of wit. The reading glasses STAY on. Most agree that the reason this play didn't become bigger is its timing - it almost immediately became dated. Now the play feels both historical and timely. I think about this play everyday...
For Reasons that Remain Unclear is a shorter play. Michael (named Patrick) is now in his early 40s and we're in Rome. Patrick has spent the day with Conrad, a priest in his 50s, and has now invited him back to his rooms. Tension is high as they seem to feel each other out - and then Patrick drops the bomb. They have met before and they have been intimate, but Patrick was nine at the time and he has never forgotten. This one was more a more successful reworking of personal trauma.
Much to think about here.
3 Plays includes The Boys in the Band, A Breeze from the Gulf and For Reasons That Remain Unclear. The introduction explains that this triad are semi-autibiographical but are in different stages of Mart/Michael's life. I like that the three plays have a reason to be collected together, although that cover is... a choice.
A Breeze from the Gulf is a Michael aged 15 in Act 1, and 25ish in Act 2 and is about the relationship with his parents. Less witty, deeply depressing. I found it so bizarre how a teenager would call out "Daddy" and laughingly join his parents in bed, or maybe that's the point, but it ran more into a "hard to watch" category for me. It was missing Mart's witty lines, as well, but I found it fascinating because I wanted to know more about Mart Crowley. It reminded me The Glass Menagerie, but much longer and much more depressing.
The Boys in the Band, the big one, is Michael at 30 and revolves around Harold's birthday party, a party-crasher, and a whole lot of wit. The reading glasses STAY on. Most agree that the reason this play didn't become bigger is its timing - it almost immediately became dated. Now the play feels both historical and timely. I think about this play everyday...
For Reasons that Remain Unclear is a shorter play. Michael (named Patrick) is now in his early 40s and we're in Rome. Patrick has spent the day with Conrad, a priest in his 50s, and has now invited him back to his rooms. Tension is high as they seem to feel each other out - and then Patrick drops the bomb. They have met before and they have been intimate, but Patrick was nine at the time and he has never forgotten. This one was more a more successful reworking of personal trauma.
Much to think about here.
Want to read
July 17, 2025Team owns Boys in the Band by Crowley, Mart digitally.
March 19, 2007
I can relate to THE BOYS IN THE BAND more than I can relate to any play, movie, or book about gay men. It's main character might be a self-hating drunk gay mess, but the play is OVERFLOWING with truths about gay men, gay life, and society.
Also, the dialogue sparkles like one of Liberacci's candelabras.
Also, the dialogue sparkles like one of Liberacci's candelabras.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews