Steambath; a play

by Bruce Jay Friedman

A parade of unforgettable characters emerge from the steam in this hilarious, supernatural bathhouse. There is Tandy, fresh from teaching art appreciation at the Police Academy; Meredith, whose last memory is buying a micro-miniskirt; Biberman, a karate silver-belt who masquerades as a paraplegic; and the mysterious Puerto Rican janitor given to omniscient musings and manipulating the fate of all mankind. Starring Jason Alexander, Edward Asner, Mary Gross, Gerrit Graham, Arthur Hanket, Paul Mercier, and Sierra Ruben. A L.A. Theatre Works full-cast performance Jason Alexander, Edward Asner, Gerrit Graham, Mary Gross, Kevin Gudahl, Arthur Hanket, Paul Mercier, Ruben Sierra

Genres: Plays, Theatre, Comedy

97 pages, Hardcover

Published January 1, 1971

About the author

American comic author whose dark, mocking humour and social criticism was directed at the concerns and behaviour of American Jews.

After graduating from the University of Missouri in 1951 with a B.A. in journalism and serving in the U.S. Air Force for two years, Friedman worked in publishing for several years before achieving success with his first novel, Stern (1962). The title character is a luckless descendent of the biblical Job, unable to assimilate into mainstream American life. Virtually all of Friedman's works are a variation on this theme; most of his characters are Jewish by birth, but they feel alienated from both Jewish and American culture. His works are also noted for focusing on absurd characters and situations.
-Encyclopædia Britannica

Reviews

[Bob Fingerman · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the greatest plays of the 20th Century, and also one of the most underappreciated. An ingenious, astute and often hilarious meditation on what comes next. Though it reads great, to truly appreciate it track down the 1973 PBS performance of it on DVD, starring Bill Bixby, Valerie Perrine, Herb Edelman and José Pérez. It's like "The Twilight Zone" meets "Insight" meets Sartre, then liberally laced with humor.

[Eric · Rating 5 out of 5]

This could happen...to me.

[Joanne · Rating 3 out of 5]

I remember this as a TV series that aired on PBS many years ago. I liked it so much then I wanted to revisit it. This play is about a steambath in which the attendant is God. The characters are new arrivals to the steambath. God, the steambath attendant, is a Puerto Rican. It's a short play and I expect almost anyone who reads it would enjoy it. I laughed several times. Overall it reminded me of "No Exit" by Sartre because once you die you no longer have any say in what happens to you.

[Brian McCann · Rating 1 out of 5]

Just. Terrible.

[Granny · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a quirky little play....I was dusting my bookshelves today and re-discovered it. "Steambath" was first performed in 1970 off-Broadway, and filmed in 1973 on PBS (where it was quite scandalous at the time, due to language, subject matter and some nudity). I remember seeing it on tv and was spellbound (whew, was I young then!)

A motley group of people meet in a cheesy steambath, which is actually the portal to the afterlife. God is a Puerto Rican steambath attendant named "Morty," (as in the Spanish "morte'" or death). One by one the characters realize that there are, in fact, dead! Irreverent, raunchy and unique.

[Emily · Rating 1 out of 5]

Usually I'm all about metaphors for death and limbo. I'm also totally into men/women dealing with the inevitability of death and the finding meaning in their lives. I understand this play was written in 1971 and is therefore a product of its time, but man... pretty much all the jokes were racist or offensive in some way and the lead male protagonist was a total misogynist. I couldn't listen to him without cringing. I'm usually a big fan of LA Theatre Works' productions, but I don't think this is a play particularly worth remembering.

[Steven · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bizarre yet increasingly endearing play about life after death in a steam bath with a Puerto Rican janitor God.