"I was putting young Mercy to bed earlier and she said to me, ‘Uncle Pat, Where has Seamus been all this time? Where has his soul been?’ And I opened my mouth to answer. But nothing came. I had no answer. In case she asks again, I was wondering what to say. Where would you say his soul has been, Father. Where has it been?"
(Also seconding the recs for Our Town and The Crucible)
For play, I would suggest "The Crucible" by Arthur Miller. Because the story is familiar, I think it helps settle into the structure of reading a script. Plus, it's an entirely captivating and haunting story.
One play that's definitely worth reading is The Firebugs (or the Fire Raisers, or the Arsonists -- it was originally written in German and the title gets translated differently by different productions). It starts out funny, but is very unsettling by the end.
The mousetrap is a famous play by Agatha Christie.
Lauren Gunderson is the most produced playwright in the US & very prolific, she often writes about women in history. She also has a 3 play trilogy about the Pride & Prejudice characters. Christmas at Pemberly is one of them.
Sarah Ruhl is a playwright who also wrote a memoir about dealing with Bell’s palsy.
Bill Bryson's One Summer: America, 1927 has long been one of my favourite books. But thank you for your commentary on Another Appalachia by Neema Avashia. I'd read about it but wasn't sure if it was worth the effort. Your description – "simultaneously expanding on and critiquing the books that have gone before it" – gave me a better sense. So too that it tries "to answer the question about what it means to truly belong in a community".
The Ferryman by Jez Butterworth.
"I was putting young Mercy to bed earlier and she said to me, ‘Uncle Pat, Where has Seamus been all this time? Where has his soul been?’ And I opened my mouth to answer. But nothing came. I had no answer. In case she asks again, I was wondering what to say. Where would you say his soul has been, Father. Where has it been?"
(Also seconding the recs for Our Town and The Crucible)
Creepy!
For play, I would suggest "The Crucible" by Arthur Miller. Because the story is familiar, I think it helps settle into the structure of reading a script. Plus, it's an entirely captivating and haunting story.
plays: Anna in the Tropics or Our Town (good if you're planning to read Tom Lake by Ann Patchett)
That seems to be a the consensus!
One play that's definitely worth reading is The Firebugs (or the Fire Raisers, or the Arsonists -- it was originally written in German and the title gets translated differently by different productions). It starts out funny, but is very unsettling by the end.
Oooh. Thanks friend!
More play suggestions:
Happy Days by Beckett: https://www.bl.uk/works/happy-days
Machinal by Sophie Treadwell (true crime): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Machinal
Fires in the Mirror by Anna Deveare Smith (one-woman show, based on true story): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fires_in_the_Mirror
The Sign in Sidney Brustein's Window, Lorraine Hansberry's second (and last) play: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Sign_in_Sidney_Brustein%27s_Window
There's also all the work of Martin McDonagh, for any fans of The Banshees of Inisherin or In Bruges: https://www.stagemilk.com/the-works-of-martin-mcdonagh/
True crime play you say?
The mousetrap is a famous play by Agatha Christie.
Lauren Gunderson is the most produced playwright in the US & very prolific, she often writes about women in history. She also has a 3 play trilogy about the Pride & Prejudice characters. Christmas at Pemberly is one of them.
Sarah Ruhl is a playwright who also wrote a memoir about dealing with Bell’s palsy.
I saw a movie about The Mousetrap and loved it. I should read it.
For a play, read Thornton Wilder’s Our Town (and follow it up with Ann Patchett’s new novel Tom Lake - you’ll see why!)
I just came here to suggest this!!!!!!
I read about the Our Town/Tom Lake double feature after scheduling this yesterday. Already Have the Tom Lake audiobook (Meryl!). Will grab Our Town.
Bill Bryson's One Summer: America, 1927 has long been one of my favourite books. But thank you for your commentary on Another Appalachia by Neema Avashia. I'd read about it but wasn't sure if it was worth the effort. Your description – "simultaneously expanding on and critiquing the books that have gone before it" – gave me a better sense. So too that it tries "to answer the question about what it means to truly belong in a community".
This site has tons of movie scripts available free online. Could be fun to read the script of a book that’s been adapted as a film.
https://imsdb.com/