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Durang, Durang
Durang/Durang was produced by Manhattan Theatre Club (Lynne Meadow, artistic director, Barry Grove, managing director) in New York City on November 14, 1994. The evening consisted of six Durang one act plays. It was directed by Walter Bobbie; set was by Derek McLane, costume by David C. Woolard, lighting by Brian Nason, sound design by Tony Meola; production stage manager was Perry Cline, stage manager was Greg Fletcher.
Durang/Durang is an evening of six one acts. It is thus not a full length play, but it is a full evening.
Durang/Durang is an evening of six one acts. It is thus not a full length play, but it is a full evening.
72 pages, Paperback
First published June 1, 1996
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78 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
September 5, 2021
Original notes:
Durang/Durang - Christopher Durang (Dramatist Play Service, 1996)
31 August 2021
3 M, 4F (flexible casting to 13M, 14F)
Six short plays for one evening of performance.
Mrs. Sorken (1F) - This acts as an introduction to the other five plays in the set. Comedic monologue that offers a fun role for an actress.
For Whom the Southern Belle Tolls (2M, 2F) - A parody of The Glass Menagerie. Lovingly lampoons Williams's original. This play works to emphasize the sillier aspects of the original: Laura's glass animals (which "require a lot of attention") become Lawrence's collection of glass swizzle stick, which also require care, but are just a bunch of pieces of glass. What care do they need, besides an occasional dusting? Tom only meets men at the movies. Fun play, even though I hate the original.
A Stye of the Eye (3M, 4F) - A parody of Sam Shepherd's A Lie of the Mind. Jake & Frankie, brothers in the original are the same person just split in personality. Like Shepherd's original, nothing gets resolved, but the "meaning" is thick in the air. A fun play, but hard to do, as the original isn't well-known. I don't know why the original had rave reviews and awards.
Nina in the Morning (3M, 1-2F) - Not a parody. Not about theatre. 1st piece of Act II. A nonsensical vignette about an older socialite wanting a cruller for breakfast. While trying to get one, she is beset by Edward Gorey-esque situations and murder.
Wanda's Visit (2-3M, 2-3F) - Wanda comes to visit her old friend and his wife of thirteen years. This leads to a series of scenes with the guest from Hell. Hilarious character for a powerful actress. The more outrageous the script gets, the more uncomfortable I am as a reader/audience member. I get to the point where I want it to end, so normalcy can reign. Then Wanda is carried away and I sit here in shock at the sudden stillness. Nothing is normal, despite the still.
Business Lunch at the Russian Tea Room (3M 3F) - Chris just wants to match his socks. Instead, he goes to a meeting where Melissa pitches terrible movie ideas at him. I love the image of a writer and two of his characters blithely matching socks while the lights very slowly fade out.
I really enjoyed these plays. They are light-hearted (despite some of the parodied material) and fun. The scenery costumes, and lighting would all be fun to work on, though scenery would probably end up being relatively minimal due to the number of scene changes; slide on/slide off types. Jackknives could be fun to use for these changes.
Durang/Durang - Christopher Durang (Dramatist Play Service, 1996)
31 August 2021
3 M, 4F (flexible casting to 13M, 14F)
Six short plays for one evening of performance.
Mrs. Sorken (1F) - This acts as an introduction to the other five plays in the set. Comedic monologue that offers a fun role for an actress.
For Whom the Southern Belle Tolls (2M, 2F) - A parody of The Glass Menagerie. Lovingly lampoons Williams's original. This play works to emphasize the sillier aspects of the original: Laura's glass animals (which "require a lot of attention") become Lawrence's collection of glass swizzle stick, which also require care, but are just a bunch of pieces of glass. What care do they need, besides an occasional dusting? Tom only meets men at the movies. Fun play, even though I hate the original.
A Stye of the Eye (3M, 4F) - A parody of Sam Shepherd's A Lie of the Mind. Jake & Frankie, brothers in the original are the same person just split in personality. Like Shepherd's original, nothing gets resolved, but the "meaning" is thick in the air. A fun play, but hard to do, as the original isn't well-known. I don't know why the original had rave reviews and awards.
Nina in the Morning (3M, 1-2F) - Not a parody. Not about theatre. 1st piece of Act II. A nonsensical vignette about an older socialite wanting a cruller for breakfast. While trying to get one, she is beset by Edward Gorey-esque situations and murder.
Wanda's Visit (2-3M, 2-3F) - Wanda comes to visit her old friend and his wife of thirteen years. This leads to a series of scenes with the guest from Hell. Hilarious character for a powerful actress. The more outrageous the script gets, the more uncomfortable I am as a reader/audience member. I get to the point where I want it to end, so normalcy can reign. Then Wanda is carried away and I sit here in shock at the sudden stillness. Nothing is normal, despite the still.
Business Lunch at the Russian Tea Room (3M 3F) - Chris just wants to match his socks. Instead, he goes to a meeting where Melissa pitches terrible movie ideas at him. I love the image of a writer and two of his characters blithely matching socks while the lights very slowly fade out.
I really enjoyed these plays. They are light-hearted (despite some of the parodied material) and fun. The scenery costumes, and lighting would all be fun to work on, though scenery would probably end up being relatively minimal due to the number of scene changes; slide on/slide off types. Jackknives could be fun to use for these changes.
August 31, 2024
Clever with some really funny moments, but lacking any real pathos. Individually, some of the one acts were really good, but the tone jumps so much that watching them all together might leave the audience with a bit of whiplash.
Mrs. Sorken-An introduction by the author's aunt-- very cute. 1F
For Whom The Southern Belle Tolls- 2M/2F, A send-up of The Glass Menagerie. Hysterical if you know it, probably confusing if you don't.
A Stye of the Eye- 3M/4F-An absurdist take on modern drama.
Nina in the Morning- 3M/2F-Feels like a take on the self-important. impressionistic plays. It depends on how it's done I guess, but not quite as funny to read.
Wanda's Visit- 2M/2F-Very funny and over the top. It feels like an early Neil Simon comedy turned up to 11.
Business Lunch at the Russian Tea Room- 3M/3F- A writer gets frustrated with insane life in Hollywood. Funny, but very 90s and I'm uncertain about plays where the subject is making movies.
Mrs. Sorken-An introduction by the author's aunt-- very cute. 1F
For Whom The Southern Belle Tolls- 2M/2F, A send-up of The Glass Menagerie. Hysterical if you know it, probably confusing if you don't.
A Stye of the Eye- 3M/4F-An absurdist take on modern drama.
Nina in the Morning- 3M/2F-Feels like a take on the self-important. impressionistic plays. It depends on how it's done I guess, but not quite as funny to read.
Wanda's Visit- 2M/2F-Very funny and over the top. It feels like an early Neil Simon comedy turned up to 11.
Business Lunch at the Russian Tea Room- 3M/3F- A writer gets frustrated with insane life in Hollywood. Funny, but very 90s and I'm uncertain about plays where the subject is making movies.
April 26, 2021
You know, when I was a teen and starting theater, I thought Durang was a genius. Almost 40 years later, and I find him juvenile and boring. The only reason I gave this two stars and not just one were the nods to other playwrights and their exquisite works of art. But gosh, I just don’t like Durang anymore.
October 25, 2018
I was the mom in "For Whom the Southern Belle Tolls". Plenty of comedic opportunities.
February 8, 2021
A fun collection of 6 short comedies. This piece provides a lot of quirky characters for actors to tackle.
November 18, 2021
What a trip.
August 8, 2022
I have some affection for this, as I have actually been in one or two of these, but I have never been a Christopher Durang fan--too much campiness.
July 19, 2024
Durang is one of my favorite playwrights.
But this collection of his early work doesn't hold up.
But this collection of his early work doesn't hold up.
April 17, 2025
Some good stuff, some bad stuff
Want to Read
May 13, 2025Cutting is for Nina in the Morning
By Christopher Durang
Another cutting is for Stye of the Eye
By Christopher Durang
Yet another cutting is for Wanda’s Visit
By Christopher Durang
By Christopher Durang
Another cutting is for Stye of the Eye
By Christopher Durang
Yet another cutting is for Wanda’s Visit
By Christopher Durang
September 30, 2010
I only read For Whom the Southern Belle Tolls and I absolutely loved it. It was incredibly funny and well-done. I don't pay much attention to parodies, but I absolutely adored this parody. The characters were well represented and played out. A person has to read The Glass Menagerie in order to fully appreciate this.
April 2, 2013
LOVE THIS PARODY TO GLASS MENAGERIE! I couldn't stop laughing while I was reading this. ;)
September 15, 2018
Kinda funny. The people I'm performing it with are ruining it. And I don't particularly like it to begin with. Uses too many offensive slurs as well, but those can be edited I guess.
March 19, 2013
A really clever parody of one of the most beloved classic plays
April 30, 2017
parody of The Glass Menagerie
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews