Beauty

by Jane Martin

Drama / Anthology

Paperback

Published January 1, 2001

About the author

Jane Martin is the pen-name of a playwright speculated to be former Actors Theatre of Louisville artistic director Jon Jory. Jon Jory, Martin's spokesperson, denies being Jane Martin but has directed the premieres of Martin's shows.

Martin has traditionally been billed as a Kentucky playwright. While speculation about her identity centers around Jory, other theories have cited former Actors Theatre of Louisville Executive Director Alexander Speer, former Actors Theatre Literary Manager Michael Bigelow Dixon, and former intern Kyle John Schmidt.

Jane Martin's key credits include Anton in Show Business, Back Story, Coup, Cementville, Criminal Hearts, Flaming Guns of the Purple Sage, Vital Signs, and Talking With... Martin's Keely and Du won the 1994 American Theater Critics Association New Play Award and was nominated for a Pulitzer Prize.

Reviews

[Isabelle House · Rating 5 out of 5]

Super interesting short story/play! A great study in purposeful dialogue and satire. This play is about two polar opposite girls who are friends/roommates that fight over what their last wish should be from a genie bottle that one of them found on the beach. Ultimately, it’s an exploration of what beauty means to different people in our world today, and the societal expectations put on women. I also enjoyed the ending, with the genie twisting her wish so that the girls ended up switching bodies—both brains and looks—and that they ultimately got what everyone wants: somebody else’s problems. A very cheeky and fun short read that can be interpreted in many different ways depending on the reader.

[Jennifer Churchill · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great quick read that teaches characterization, theme and authors intent.