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No Quarter
You were brought up on mythology. Hollow mythology. That's why you're all stuck, all angry, a prince in the wrong story. A prince with a black eye.
Fleeing a world he has rejected, Robin finds solace in his music and the sanctuary of his remote family home. But as his kingdom begins to crumble around him, how far will he go to save it and at what cost?
Polly Stenham's No Quarter premiered at the Royal Court Theatre, London, in January 2013.
Fleeing a world he has rejected, Robin finds solace in his music and the sanctuary of his remote family home. But as his kingdom begins to crumble around him, how far will he go to save it and at what cost?
Polly Stenham's No Quarter premiered at the Royal Court Theatre, London, in January 2013.
112 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2013
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
May 17, 2017
2.5 stars
Unfortunately, I think I would have loved this book a lot more if I had not read it last of all Stenham's plays. It covers ground which is extremely familiar to anyone who would have read That Face, only neither as scintillating or as original. I don't mind that Stenham writes about the same things over and over (sibling relationships, upper-class families, families crumbling in isolation, femme fatale matriarchs and hapless sons, usually with neglected or abused sisters), because she is exceptionally good at it. It really says something about where her strengths lie that this suddenly becomes a completely more intense and interesting play once the brother, Oliver, reappears from London - where he is an MP - bringing family secrets and much-needed confrontations with him. Until then, though, this remains a damp squib of familiar and, most unfortunately, boring proportions.
Unfortunately, I think I would have loved this book a lot more if I had not read it last of all Stenham's plays. It covers ground which is extremely familiar to anyone who would have read That Face, only neither as scintillating or as original. I don't mind that Stenham writes about the same things over and over (sibling relationships, upper-class families, families crumbling in isolation, femme fatale matriarchs and hapless sons, usually with neglected or abused sisters), because she is exceptionally good at it. It really says something about where her strengths lie that this suddenly becomes a completely more intense and interesting play once the brother, Oliver, reappears from London - where he is an MP - bringing family secrets and much-needed confrontations with him. Until then, though, this remains a damp squib of familiar and, most unfortunately, boring proportions.
July 17, 2020
ughhhh sooo good
May 13, 2020
I had to read this for a class and I devoured it in one sitting! I have to say, I really enjoyed it and it's a play I would read a second and maybe a third time, to fully grasp all the characters' emotions and motives.
It's a fast read, a wild ride exploring human nature and personal relationships, exploring almost every kind there is; brothers, mother & sons, friends, lovers, etc.
After finishing it, it really reminded my of Sally Rooney's work. I've only read "Conversations with Friends" from her, but the writing style really reminded me of her.
It's raw, it's real, it's a play about real people with flaws and emotions and in the end, it's a play about how to deal with yourself and your own emotions when you feel like the world is crumbling to pieces.
It's a fast read, a wild ride exploring human nature and personal relationships, exploring almost every kind there is; brothers, mother & sons, friends, lovers, etc.
After finishing it, it really reminded my of Sally Rooney's work. I've only read "Conversations with Friends" from her, but the writing style really reminded me of her.
It's raw, it's real, it's a play about real people with flaws and emotions and in the end, it's a play about how to deal with yourself and your own emotions when you feel like the world is crumbling to pieces.
May 7, 2022
After reading That Face I had high expectations for Stenham, and she managed to meet them and go so much further. Often when addressing such heavy topics in media I find it to be more akin to misery porn than a meaningful exploration. So when No Quarter didn't leave me feeling empty, hollow and sad I was extremely shocked, Stenham managed to tackle these bleak topics with comedy, naunce and kindness that left me with an aching catharsis and appreciation for humanity.
September 19, 2014
I really liked this! Stenham is now on my list on playwrights to seek out more work from.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews