Approaching Zanzibar and Other Plays

by Tina Howe

With her signature absurdism and lyrical language, acclaimed American playwright Tina Howe contemplates love, marriage, family, death, art and, ultimately, the very wonder of life. Including one of her first plays, Birth and After Birth, her most recent play, One Shoe Off, and the surrealistic masterpiece Approaching Zanzibar, this anthology encompasses a career of innovation and irreverence that spans three decades.

Genres: Plays, Theatre, Drama

300 pages, Paperback

Published April 1, 1995

About the author

Tina Howe (November 21, 1937 – August 28, 2023) was an American playwright.

Reviews

[Carolina Colleene · Rating 2 out of 5]

Language: R (44 swears, 6 "f"); Mature Content: PG13; Violence: G
Howe captures all of the stress and excitement of a family on a road trip in a way that touches the audience because of how frustrating and funny those trips can be. As the Blossom family stops on the way to their destination, they learn more about each other and strengthen their relationships. I enjoyed reading the screenplay, though I'm sure it would be better to see it performed.

[Sara · Rating 5 out of 5]

I performed in this play as an 11 year old in 1991. Re-reading it in my mid-forties was a gift. The meditations on aging, mid-life, and even death are poignant and also funny. An absolutely five star work

[Kirk Nesset · Rating 5 out of 5]

The title plate is especially wonderful, tight and surprising and absolutely hilarious. I can't think of any playwright besides Shakespeare who can pull off this many zingers.

[Emily Grenon · Rating 1 out of 5]

Approaching Zanzibar technically fits the definition of a play, though it does eschew most playwriting conventions, such as any semblance of narrative or character growth. Every character starts mediocre, and ends mediocre. At least it's consistent?

[tenderfoot]

Read Approaching Zanzibar April 1992; the others i'm not so sure of when. 1995?

[Gabrielle · Rating 4 out of 5]

I like her dialogue -- the scenes in the car cracked me up, and the scene when the actors switched roles was genius.

[Air Academy Forensics]

The edition we own on the cart does not include any other plays... only "Approaching Zanzibar."