Six Characters

Luigi Pirandello’s play Six Characters in Search of an Author is definitely not like anything we have read so far.  Once I began the play, I realized I had actually already read it in my high school theatre class.  We were studying the concept of a play being within a play.  As the play begins with what seems to be a play rehearsal, its storyline brings in this complicated idea.  This is a perplexing concept, but there is still the definite understanding of what reality presumably is.  However, as the play develops, the line between reality and illusion becomes increasingly cloudier.  This eventually leads to that line becoming completely nonexistent when a character “shoots himself”--that is, the rest of the remaining characters being unable to agree upon whether it is all part of the show, or if he has actually indeed killed himself.  With the “characters” of the play not even sure what is real and what is being acted, this leaves little hope for the audience’s understanding of what the ending is supposed to insinuate.  

It is inarguably a different and creative concept.  I can definitely see it being something you either love or hate.  While I can appreciate its originality, I ultimately must say I did not care for it.  I find the last line to be the thing that really makes me decide on my dislike toward it.  Said by the play’s Manager: “Pretence? Reality? To hell with it all! Never in my life has such a thing happened to me. I've lost a whole day over these people, a whole day!”  The point is how pointless it ultimately is whether something is real or fake, exists or doesn’t.   I find it leaves me with almost a sickening feeling.  So no, I didn’t really find I enjoyed it.