Our Town

Thornton Wilder's play Our Town takes on American idealism, community/familial identity, and life stages as it's main themes. Because the play is old yet so "recent" in terms of its historical significance and cultural commentary, I believe it is hard for audiences to swallow in the modern era. The character types which Wilder explores are so familiar to us now and so widely parodied and lampooned that it is impossible for us to experience the unadulterated meanings Wilder intended. I believe this is also partially due to the change in language and speech between the time periods. Wilder's dialogue is cheesy and direct to some but beautiful and vivid to others. I believe the detractors are viewing this play through a modern lens, in which they expect everything to be subtle and more visually oriented. I would be very interested in seeing a production of this play which was completely and utterly true to the spirit of the time.

Our Town

Our town reminded me a lot of the town where I grew up, except this town was way less scandalous. The whole town, and everyone who lives there are just so boring and one dimensional. I had a hard time believing it. The one almost real person in the town was the alcoholic organ player. Everyone in the town was such a goody two shoes that it just annoyed me. I liked how fast the play moved. I found the play pretty sad, especially Emily. Emily had so much potential and she just threw it all away. The only thing Emily accomplished in her life was having a baby, but she didn't get to raise the baby because she died having another one. I enjoyed the message of the play that people don't stop to look around in life and miss whats really important. Overall I think the play is pretty good. It is hard for me to relate to it because the characters are all so good and boring, I don't know anyone or any town where people are like that

Our Town

Our Town by Thornton Wilder is a very well written play.  However, I do not believe that this play is relatable in our current times due to the audience that goes to view plays in our generation.  The themes about the cycle of life and love- romantic and filial - are very important, however, this generation would not appreciate the simplicity of this work.  Nowadays everyone is looking for the next edgiest play, something that will reflect the feeling of the masses about our struggling economy, sexualized commerciality, and the violence in the world today.  This play does not do that.  Wilder wanted to show a real American town and talk about the struggles of everyday life in this town.  But everyday life for the world now consists of drugs, shootings, incest, prostitution, manipulation...the world that Wilder is displaying is not the world that we are familiar with, and that is why some may feel that this play lacks substance.  I did enjoy reading it, though.  I loved the idea of the stage being pretty much bare and the use of a very simplistic set and pantomiming to convey the action and setting.  I feel like this play might be better appreciated in viewing, as I do with most plays, but I do feel that the world we live in today cannot and will not find a place for this piece of theatre.  It has become more of a nostalgic piece and something that can be looke

Our Town

I wish I could say that I enjoy Our Town, but overall, I just can't help but get bored reading it.  I think it's technically well-written, but content-wise pretty dull, unfortunately.  My first experience with this play was in high school when I saw a production that one of my friends was in.  I remember being so bored that almost all I could do was repeatedly consider how much time we had left until the show was over.  I think my main problem with the play is that it seems to try to be everything at once, and technically succeeds.  However, this success costs the show any specific focus, causing the play to end up rambling and lacking purpose other than to simply portray life in its most basic form.  For the first two acts, the play does just that - portraying life in the broadest stroke possible,.  However, once the play gets to its last act, it seems like a different play entirely.  No longer content with simply presenting life, Wilder now seems to want to make some grand statement about life after death and the ultimate point of life.  However, as his first two acts have all but made it a point to avoid commenting about anything at all, what he might've intended to be a bold statement ends up coming across as a non sequitur lacking any precedent or even a transition.  Overall, however, the play does succeed in its attempt to present a slice of life.  I guess, then, that this play can be considered a nice base from which other playwrights can form more complex arguments, thoughts, and opinions about life, but Our Town still remains a purposely colorless and ultimately tiring portrait of American life.

Our Town

Our town is one of my favorite plays. If I were to write a play, this is a similar idea as to how i would construct my play. One of my favorite parts of the construction of this work is the idea of the three separate act. Act I the act of daily life, act II that of love and marriage, and my absolute favorite act III of death and "eternity." When I first saw this play (in high school) I cried and I just loved it so much. Now, reading back on it i see just how amazingly poetic the whole entire play is and how much life matters or does it? 
The amazing message Thornton Wilder coveys through this play is the meaning and expense of life, love and other mysteries. I love the end of this play where Emily finds re-living her life far too painful and begins to realize how many people including herself waste their life on so many other things but happiness. Each of the characters in this play have such important and separate parts, even the milk-man has a solid influence in this play. One of there best endings to a play is the end to THIS PLAY.The Stage Manager concludes the play, reflecting on the probable lack of life beyond Earth, and wishes the audience a good night. This is gold to me.

Our Town

Thornton Wilder’s Our Town is actually a play I hold very close to me.  In high school, our talented theatre program put on the production and I was cast as Emily.  I know it is kind of one of those plays that every school seems to do a production of and many perceive as being simple and cheesy, but I actually love it.  Admittedly, I most definitely have a bias towards it given my past experience with it; however, I love the simplicity of it.  I love the simple, small, close-knit depiction of Grover’s Corners.  I love the simple romance of Emily and George.  The simplicity is actually what makes the play.  It is its basis.  This is especially demonstrated, and in my opinion very well, in the third act with the realization of the small things meaning the most in life.  It’s funny; I could actually feel myself at the beginning of tearing up during certain parts toward the end.  I don’t think it was so much that I found it touching, as much as the fact that I had cried so many times saying those lines that it seemed almost involuntary to produce tears at the reading of those parts.  Reading the play now brought back such good memories.  It is definitely one of my favorite memories, if not my favorite memory, from high school and made me miss being in theatre.

That Girl Knows Her Place.. On Top

Before I read the play, I read a summary of it to see whether or not I would enjoy something like this. I am not the biggest reader, but I am a big opinion giver, and this play brings a few of those opinions out. I love the title first of all, Top Girls, not only is it provocative but it also means something deeper: where the author, Caryl Churchill wants to see women in the future, on top (and in charge). I can appreciate the intention in writing this play, and the meanings behind the purpose; the author definitely wants to see the women grow in power, not necessarily be in control, but have a bigger voice. It was written in the 80's, when Margaret Thatcher was the Prime Minister of England, she was a major catalyst for the feminine movement across the globe; especially in the west. My favorite character was Marlene, she is a tough career focused woman, and I think she can be a bit heartless. Her main focus is her success and I she does whatever she can do reach that happy spot in her life; I somewhat liked this about her. I can definitely see a good amount of people not liking her and going for someone less aggressive, but that passion she has for success that drives her is awesome; I would love to see more of that drive in other characters.

Top Girls

I did not get this play. I don't understand why it was famous in the first place. The beginning scene was weird and confusing everyone was talking at the same time. I did not understand how that connected to the rest of the show besides the one overlapping character. I thought the scene with the two girls was creepy, especially when Angie says she put on her dress to kill her mother. It was also creepy when one of the girls licked menstrual blood.  I thought there was way too much stuff about children and reproduction in the show, it seemed very repetitive. I would think that in a play about women they would have found more things to write about then reproduction and childbirth. I found this play kind of boring, I actually fell asleep reading it. I felt like the themes that were discussed in the play were just very overused and there was no fresh approach to them. I want to like this play sine its such a big deal. I think I must be missing something, but who knows.

Top Girls and Feminism

This play really captivated me.  I loved the opening scene in the restaurant, very conversational.  I first thought it difficult to read, but once I realized that the overlapping was happening I immediately felt as though I was at lunch with my own matriarchal family!  The similarities are crazy, especially all the talk of gaining the upper hand against men.  My family is extremely matriarchal and we have VERY few men in our family, so this play really just reflected a typical day at lunch with my aunts and cousins! The play, being set in Britian, really opened up a whole new dimension of Feminism practices for me.  So often in school we are taught about gender equality, but we never study the movements of feminism that arose in countries other than America.  This play does a superb job of commenting on the contrast between American feminism, which celebrates individualistic women who acquire power and wealth, and British socialist feminism, which involves collective group gain.  This also peaked my interest in other feminist movements throughout Europe, especially because my topic for the research paper is about Ibsen and the Rise of Feminism in Norway.  The play argues against the style of feminism that simply turns women into new patriarchs and argues for a feminism where women's instinct to care for the weak and downtrodden is more prominent. The play questions whether it is possible for women in society to combine a successful career with a thriving family life and the challenges of tearing yourself apart to rise to the top.
Top Girls was a very pleasant read that was a bit abstract at times, but brought the overall message of how our society is still dealing with gender equality and the struggle that women face to become better than their male counterparts.  The structure is very unconventional, however, the dreamlike style that lives inside of this script complemented what Caryl Churchill was trying to translate.  I would love to see this performed, especially with all of the historical figures being parallel to the actual characters in the main story line.

Top Girls

          Top Girls’ opening scene is a dinner party in which historical women have been invited, they are also dead. Marlene, the main character, had just got a promotion and wanted to celebrate. Marlene appears to be well driven and wants to have a successful career. She had a baby at a young age, Angie, and left her daughter in the care of her sister so that she may try to go off and build a career. Angie seems to not be on the whole “feminist train” that the rest of the women are on. This was my first time reading this play, and I would have to say that I enjoyed it. Women have done a lot to further themselves in the workforce, and have come a long way. The women in this play eventually reveal a sort of weakness about themselves, and one that they can all relate to.

Top Girls

I actually thought this play was really intriguing thematically and challenged a lot of notions of gender roles in society - particularly what women have to sacrifice of themselves in order to compete for the same societal position as men.  Structurally, however, it was a bit confusing, as the non-linear storytelling threw me off a bit.  Churchill tied everything in by the end, but that didn't quite change the fact I was lost for the first two acts.  That being said, I did enjoy the opening scene where Marlene met the women from history.  Though I usually don't think dream (or dream-like) sequences are effective, I liked the fact that Churchill used this opportunity to present telling parallels to Marlene's predicament that spanned ages.  Through this, Churchill was able to show that Marlene's sacrifices are not simply the result of a postmodern woman in the workforce or the rise of feminism, but a truth for women throughout history.  These women have all had to give up vital parts of themselves to get ahead, which begs the question: how far have we really gotten in the fight for equal rights when women are still forced to choose which integral part of themselves to give up in order to succeed?

Top Girls

"This play is contemporary and examines the role of women in society and what being a successful woman means." The play is famous for its opening sequence in which Marlene, the main character, meets famous women in history. She meets Pope Joan who dresses like a man, and Isabella Bird the explorer. She sees Dull Gret know as "the harrower of Hell" as well as the Japanese mistress of an emperor and later a Buddhist nun, Lady Nijo. She meets Patient Gruselda better known as the wife from the "Clerk's Tale" in the Canterbury Tales.  All of these characters behave like a gang of city career women out on the town and get increasingly drunk as it is revealed that each has suffered in similar ways.The stories of the historical women "parallel the characters" in the modern-day story. Some of these parallels are even emphasised by the actors doubling the roles of the historical and modern characters.
THis play is non-linear which makes it more contemporary and the way it compares the past present and the future really makes for an interesting view on women in society. 

That West Is True-er Than The East

I hate reading, as you may know by now, I absolutely loathe it. It frustrates me and its hard to concentrate with small letters; I begin to read the same sentence over and over again. But this play, just like a few others assigned in this class was pretty simple and straight forward to read. The plot was a bit much in my opinion, and the characters weren't all like able (especially Lee), but it wasn't a hard read. My favorite character was Mom.. she was just the oddest person to me, I loved it. The play itself was a bit annoying, the drama was heightened and I wanted to laugh while reading it, maybe I was in a bad mood, but I just wasn't ready for it. 

true west

        This play was disturbingly funny. It was my first time reading it, and I enjoyed it very much. Alcohol yet again seems to be a character on its own. Both brothers, Lee and Austin, end up getting belligerently drunk. Austin, the more organized and established of the two brothers, abstains from drinking for as long as he cans, but eventually gives in. Lee on the other hand, begins drinking basically from the moment we meet him. Lee and Austin are different in personality, but as the play continues, they slowly start to turn into one another. Their father, the "old man," abandoned them for the desert. He seems to play a role even though he isn't there physically. In my opinion, this play shows us that we cannot escape our family, as Austin decides that he wants to quit his life in the suburbs and run off to the desert, like his father. The two brothers are themselves, each other, and their father.

True West

In Sam Shepard's play "True West", it seems to me that the pauses are just as important as the dialogue.  They establish the underlying menace, set up some of the play's funniest moments, and also reveal regret, indecision and fear between Lee and Austin.  I especially enjoyed the brother relationship between Lee and Austin who invoke the feelings of loyalty, love, hate and the jealousy that arises from the different paths they've taken.  The play invokes the true spirit of sibling rivalry, taking it almost too far into the reality of losing all control, such as when Austin strangles Lee at the end of the play.  This breaking point is extremely relevant to the idea of human nature and instincts.  Once Austin passes that threshold of composure, he completely loses all semblance of the person he is supposed to be.  I found this play extremely interesting, especially because in my directing class we are working on plays that resemble this exploration of human relationships down to their core.  I also found it very interesting that their mother did not have a bigger role in the show, after all the show takes place in her home.  However, she doesn't come in until the end, and the minute things turn awry and her sons start brawling, she immediately takes her leave.  I wonder if she cars at all that both her sons wanted to venture out into the desert possibly to never be seen or heard from again?
Regardless, I found this play to be excellent, from its ominous opening to it's startling closing moments.  Sam Shepard is a fabulous master American dramatist, and I would definitely like to read more of his works to tie in his theme in True West with his style throughout his other various works.

True West

Continuing the recurring theme of alcohol-fueled fighting in our selected plays, True West really felt like one of the first "contemporary" plays we've read this semester.  The language, characters, and situations felt more current than those of the plays we've read previously, so it was a bit easier to get into the play.  That being said, however, I did find the action of the play a bit monotonous.  It seemed like every two seconds, the brothers would start bickering or fighting with one another.  It reminded me a lot of Virginia Woolf in this regard.  Though I appreciated the reversal of roles and the exploration of sibling rivalry, after a while it just felt like all these characters were allowed to do was pick at each other until they started another battle.  I do understand that this was the crux of the play's message and central point, but the action could've been broken up by a few different scenes. Other than that, though, I really enjoyed reading the play - a lot more than I expected to.

thE tRue "wiLd wiLD" wEst y'AlL

Apart from Blithe Spirit, (duhhh) this has been my favorite play that we have read. This in a way went along with the same reasons why I liked Blithe Spirit so much. Both Coward and Sam Shepard's language seemed to resonate with me. There was something about the style of writing that was not as off putting as so other works we have discussed. I also enjoyed the surprise of the actual material. I was skeptical about reading this one simply because of the title. I was waiting for Lonesome Dove to make an appearance, but thankfully it did not! Rather the play was nicely set in California, as opposed to Texas or Wyoming as I had thought. I guess this just goes to show how you can not just a book by its cover, or play in this case.I also really enjoyed the relationship between the brothers. It was something tangible and realistic in a weird way for me. this is another play that we have read in this class that I would actually really enjoy to see live.  

True West

True West by Sam Shepard is a very interesting modern take on western America, in this case, California. The play is about two brothers who ultimately are responsible for changing the other's life. The play Starts out with Austin, watching his moms house and Lee his older brother coming in and rearranging Austin's life. The title "True West" makes it out to be some kind of old western stand off which is actually what it ends up being but not with guns and tumble weed.
Shepard does a good job of showing How Lee comes into Austins life and truly flips his world upside down as the seemingly switch lives and turn on each other as well as ending up collaborating on a screenplay together

Blithe Spirit

After having read so many "serious" - but nonetheless important - plays recently, I was ecstatic to get to read a lighthearted and truly hilarious farce like Blithe Spirit.  It might've just been the timing in the semester, or the fact that Noël Coward intended this play to lift the audience's spirits in the midst of a war-torn state of affairs, but this play really did lighten the mood of this semester.  The play's quick wit and farcical spirit really resonated with me, and had me hooked almost from the first page.  The plot does seem a bit hokey and corny at first glance, but Coward really does handle this somewhat farfetched concept expertly and never lets the action feel contrived or pandering.  The characters felt real - a feat in itself for the now-ghost of Elvira and the larger-than-life pseudo-psychic Madame Arcati.  I also felt the way death was approached in this play was very unique, as death never quite felt heavy or tragic, and more just an accepted event.  Overall, I LOVED reading Blithe Spirit, and I honestly can't wait to see a production mounted here, which I know will be absolutely fantastic.

blithe spirit

        Blithe Spirit is delightfully uncomfortable. There seems to be not one sane person in the entire play. I enjoyed this play pretty thoroughly, it was funny borderline inappropriate. The protagonist is Charles, but at times it almost seems to be Ruth. Ruth just gets the short end of the stick for everything. Even after she dies she's still not getting a fair deal.This play was needed by its audience at the time it was written, and I think it successfully did it's job in distracting them for a short while and helping them cope with death all at the same time. This was the first time I read this play, but of course I had heard of it before I read it. I cannot wait to see this play at Loyola. Madame Arcati would be a hoot to see on stage, as would Elvira. Overall, I think this play has something to offer to everyone who reads or sees it.

Blithe Spirit

I really enjoyed reading the play. It was fun and lighthearted and really had some funny moments. The fact that people I know are going to be in this play made it all the more interesting to read. The fact that a woman would come all the way back from the dead just to torment her husband is just a really funny concept to me. Though the concept of death is usually quite a downer and depressing, this play presents death in a more light hearted comedic light and its a very interesting spin to put on it. Though I dont agree with the way Charles reacts when finding out about Ruth's death, it's understandable at that point why he is just complacent with the news. Especially after being haunted for a while. I really enjoyed the play and it makes me want to see the play in person all the more.

I Know That's A Blithe Spirit.!

I am not a fan of reading plays, as you might know, but some plays are so much more simple and fun to read than others; Blithe Spirit is one of those plays. Fortunately for me, I've done a few scenes from it and some of my fellow classmates are performing in it this season. Noel Coward created such a lovable group of characters, I can't deal. For the most part, each person had a quality of comedy, wit, and human-ness. Even though Elvira was a ghost, the only times I ever thought about her like that was when she would play with Charles and Ruth. Elvira was my favorite character, she is just above Charles (only because I played Charles in the scenes I did). Elvira is the life of the play, ironic because she is most definitely dead, she creates interesting situations, drama, and knows how to keep everything interesting. I liked reading this play, and I'm sure I'll love watching it this Friday when it opens at loyola.

Blithe Spirit

Noel Coward is quite the playwright!!  What a funny comedic play to read!  I was never quite so delighted with the English style humor as I was reading Blithe Spirit.  I really enjoyed the contrast between Elvira, Charles' first wife, and Ruth his second.  It created the perfect platform for ridiculousness to ensue.  This contrast makes me wonder why such a difference in the choice of his brides?  Why, when you are married to someone so free spirited (no pun intended) like Elvira, to turn and marry someone so staunch and proper as Ruth?  I believe that Charles got what he deserved when both Ruth and Elvira were haunting him, although I found it a tad bit unfair for Ruth to have died in such a way that she didn't deserve.  But I suppose that adds to the comedy of the play.  Overall it was a fantastic play to read and enjoy imagining staged in Marquette!  I cannot wait to see what Patrick has in store for this comedy, and how Logan, Kali and Natalie will portray the dynamic of this crazy relationship Coward has imagined for them.  Madame Arcati is definitely my favorite character, one whom I would love to play one day!  Her crazy yet knowledgeable demeanor on all things supernatural makes the perfect compliment to the dry comedy of the Bradman's and Charles and Ruth in the beginning of the play.  She is vibrant and intense and I cannot wait to see Kelcie's portrayal of her!