Omnium Gatherum

by Theresa Rebeck, Alexandra Gersten-Vassilaros

Believing that lively contentious debate is the heart and soul of a dinner party a domestic artist and perfect hostess has invited an assortment of opinionated personalities to share a surreal meal. The guests at this exquisite feast of food and argument confront the global implications of September 11 and beyond in an urgent impassioned and hilarious work that was applauded at Actors Theatre of Louisville's Humana Festival and Off Broadway.

Genres: Plays, Drama

74 pages, Play Script

First published January 1, 2003

About the author

Theresa Rebeck is a playwright. She also works as a television writer. Her input went into popular shows such as Dream On, Brooklyn Bridge, L.A. Law, American Dreamer, Maximum Bob, First Wave, and Third Watch.
She also wrote and produced Canterbury’s Law, Smith, Law and Order: Criminal Intent and NYPD Blue.
Ms. Rebeck has an MFA in Playwrighting and a PhD. in Victorian Melodrama, from Brandeis University. She is a board member of the Dramatists Guild and has taught at Brandeis and Columbia Universities.
She currently resides in Brooklyn with her husband Jess Lynn and two children, Cooper and Cleo.

Reviews

[Lauren · Rating 2 out of 5]

The patter of conversation, the nuances of people chattering and interacting, are the strongest part of this play. The playwrights perfectly capture the ebb and flow of casual, dinner-party banality.
I never want to see this play performed.

The tediousness of the conversation, the differing of opinions – I can get that at a dinner party as a participant and have no desire to spend an evening watching at the theatre.

It doesn’t help that the plot is thin and easy to predict. The play feels very much of the immediate post-9/11 era and not necessarily in a good way.

But the conversational tics and beats – absolutely pitch perfect. Quasi-recommended.

[Little Prince · Rating 3 out of 5]

okay...?

[Carrie O'Dell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Theresa Rebeck's work often owes a debt to the plays of George Bernard Shaw and , "Omnium Gatherum"is no different, bringing to mind the pack of intellectuals in "Heartbreak House". Although the dialogue is specific to the events of 9/11 (the playwrights wrote it as a response to the plethora of dinner parties the attended following the fall of the Twin Towers), the play speaks to the urge to consume following a massive tragedy-- if we eat enough or drink enough or spend enough, it all might go away. It doesn't, however, and gradually the people around Suzie's dinner table are forced to acknowledge what has happened to them.
It's a much more powerful play on he stage than the page and the work is driven far more by character than plot. That said, it is a powerful piece of writing and of theatre.

[Dominic · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was the first play of the 15 the I need to read for my online Contemporary Women Playwrights course. It has a sensibility that I certainly like and characters that I learn about slowly over the course of the entire work and for those of you who have read this play and seen "Lost;" I am certain that you will see similarities in its story-telling techniques and themes.
An elegant dinner party hosted by a Martha Stewart wannabe and her bestselling misogynistic husband is full of exotic courses, other noteworthy guests, and titillating conversations about food, decor, death, politics, and religion. It all culminates with a surprise guest and a revelation that the reader might foresee that most of the guests and host don't, or at least aren't willing to admit.

[Samantha · Rating 3 out of 5]

Wow.

[Chambers Stevens · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have not read this play.
But I have seen an amazing production.
I can't understand why this play isn't produced around the world.
It is brilliant!!!