Gregor Samsa
That Guy
Which shall be discussed within the confines of this thread. 
Has anyone here read/seen any plays lately, and if so, what did they think of them?
I read two plays last night, both representatives of the 'Theatre Of The Absurd..
The first was Samuel Beckett's 'Endgame'. While Waiting For Godot is more famous, this is perhaps a better representation of a nihilistic, absurd world. The 'plot' (or lack thereof) involves only four characters throughout, one (Hamm) of which is blind, and two of which live inside bins (Nell and Nagg.). Throughout, it's a commentary on existence, which leaves the slim possibility of being able to escape the situation at hand. Ironically, the play is so minimalistic that it's hard to explain.
Perhaps the best explanation of the textual ethos is the opening line.
Clov-Finished, it's finished, nearly finished, it must be nearly finished. [Pause] Grain upon grain, one by one, and one day, suddenly, there's a heap, a little heap, the impossible heap. [Pause] I can't be punished any more..
Quite the uplifting comment on life.
Despite the abformentioned representation however, the play doesn't absorb all light..There is an absurd humour running throughout, and several Shakespearean allusions.. (Such as My kingdom for a nightman!, or the original title itself, which in French translated to Our revels are now ended, from The Tempest.)
At the very least, it's interesting.
The other play was Pirandello's 'Six Characters In Search Of An Author'. I don't know who else here has read it, but it is hillarious! Full of innovation, earnest self-deprecation and meta-references, as seen in the following extract;
Producer-(leaping to his feet furiously). Ridiculous? It's ridiculous, is it? What do you expect me to do it nobody writes good plays any more and we're reduced to putting on plays by Pirandello? And if you can understand them you must be very clever. He writes them on purpose so nobody enjoys them, neither actors, nor critics nor audience.
Simply, the 'plot' has a theatre company reheasing a play, when suddenly, they are interrupted by six characters...In search of an author to depict their tale. Hillarity ensues, as well as breaking down the 'fourth wall' between stage and audience, quite frequently. (Besides introducing various philosophical questions to the state of existence and performance, in an entertaining manner within the plot.)
This was written in 1921, and is way ahead of its time.. Seems to preface Stoppard (Which is why Pirandello is referenced in The Real Inspector Hound.. I cannot but help from invoking....Pirandello-Moon.) and many other playwrights. A strong sign of the play's originality is that riots actually occured upon it's premiere, due to people thinking it wasn't actually a play. (Versimiliitude is achieved by such devices as opening the 'play' with the curtains already up, and showing the 'preperation' of the stage, within the text itself. Clever.)
Contrary to the above quote however, Pirandello's piece is a splendiferous play, and is thoroughly recommended.
Has anyone here read/seen any plays lately, and if so, what did they think of them?
I read two plays last night, both representatives of the 'Theatre Of The Absurd..
The first was Samuel Beckett's 'Endgame'. While Waiting For Godot is more famous, this is perhaps a better representation of a nihilistic, absurd world. The 'plot' (or lack thereof) involves only four characters throughout, one (Hamm) of which is blind, and two of which live inside bins (Nell and Nagg.). Throughout, it's a commentary on existence, which leaves the slim possibility of being able to escape the situation at hand. Ironically, the play is so minimalistic that it's hard to explain.
Perhaps the best explanation of the textual ethos is the opening line.
Clov-Finished, it's finished, nearly finished, it must be nearly finished. [Pause] Grain upon grain, one by one, and one day, suddenly, there's a heap, a little heap, the impossible heap. [Pause] I can't be punished any more..
Quite the uplifting comment on life.
Despite the abformentioned representation however, the play doesn't absorb all light..There is an absurd humour running throughout, and several Shakespearean allusions.. (Such as My kingdom for a nightman!, or the original title itself, which in French translated to Our revels are now ended, from The Tempest.)
At the very least, it's interesting.
The other play was Pirandello's 'Six Characters In Search Of An Author'. I don't know who else here has read it, but it is hillarious! Full of innovation, earnest self-deprecation and meta-references, as seen in the following extract;
Producer-(leaping to his feet furiously). Ridiculous? It's ridiculous, is it? What do you expect me to do it nobody writes good plays any more and we're reduced to putting on plays by Pirandello? And if you can understand them you must be very clever. He writes them on purpose so nobody enjoys them, neither actors, nor critics nor audience.
Simply, the 'plot' has a theatre company reheasing a play, when suddenly, they are interrupted by six characters...In search of an author to depict their tale. Hillarity ensues, as well as breaking down the 'fourth wall' between stage and audience, quite frequently. (Besides introducing various philosophical questions to the state of existence and performance, in an entertaining manner within the plot.)
This was written in 1921, and is way ahead of its time.. Seems to preface Stoppard (Which is why Pirandello is referenced in The Real Inspector Hound.. I cannot but help from invoking....Pirandello-Moon.) and many other playwrights. A strong sign of the play's originality is that riots actually occured upon it's premiere, due to people thinking it wasn't actually a play. (Versimiliitude is achieved by such devices as opening the 'play' with the curtains already up, and showing the 'preperation' of the stage, within the text itself. Clever.)
Contrary to the above quote however, Pirandello's piece is a splendiferous play, and is thoroughly recommended.
