Not Enough Rope: A Play In One Act

by Elaine May

Play

Genres: Plays

22 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1992

About the author

Elaine May is an American film director, screenwriter and actress. She achieved her greatest fame in the 1950s from her improvisational comedy routines in partnership with Mike Nichols.

Reviews

[EJ Paras · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Would you come up and sit with me until I die? It will only take a minute.”

Okay. This was very funny. Knowing some of the context of Elaine May’s life during the time this was written and performed (with her bud Mike Nichols), and I think in a perverted way, adds to the humor of the piece — even if she denies or never confirms what is the general inspiration for this.

It’s casually absurd, but the humanity behind Edith’s character is so there. What drives a person to want to commit suicide? We’re all just desperate for any sort of connection. The final image is a bit haunting and so tragic. But it’s also a beautiful one. Her big monologue is a a funny, emotional, absurd plea for help and connection. And Claude’s reaction is hilarious and so heartless; that Nichols played that character… makes one think… (obviously the two of them love each other and toward the end of Nichols’ life, were as close as ever).

“Oh, this is crazy! I just realized! I’m not supposed to die. You gave me twine! Well, you’ll really have to get me down now… and right away. See, if I should lose my balance and fall I’m not sure it would count as an accident. I mean I’m not sure that if you put twine around your own neck and then die God has any way of knowing whether you lost your balance or did it on purpose.”

I went to a Q&A of Amadeus the other day at the Roxy, which had a Q&A (more like a conversation) with F. Murray Abraham and was moderated by Julian Schlossberg. The Q&A was magical. When walking out, I realized that in my possession was this play. Schlossberg worked with Elaine May several times throughout their careers, and they even just did a Q&A together at the Roxy that I wish I went to. Anyway, I showed him my copy of this play from the library; and he thought it was so nice. He looked at it so intently, both the front and back cover, and then he opened it and saw my Phoenician Scheme bookmark; and he asked me if I wanted to give it to Elaine. I joked that it would be nice, but then I’d owe a bit of a fee to the library. He gave it back to me and smiled. A special interaction and night, enhanced by Elaine May herself.

[Autumn · Rating 2 out of 5]

This one was not for me... I read it, didn't love it, and then came to Goodreads to see that I was the outlier.

I'm giving it two stars instead of one because I did like the characterization of the two leads.

[Gary Wright · Rating 3 out of 5]

I performed the role of the young man in this when I was in college.

[Ian · Rating 4 out of 5]

A lovely, dark, absurd little treat.

[Kara · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wildly dark!