K2

by Patrick Meyers

Book by Patrick Meyers, Meyers, Patrick

Genres: Plays, Drama, Theatre

72 pages, Paperback

Published January 1, 1998

Reviews

[Melvin Marsh · Rating 3 out of 5]

Read this for a scenic design course a few months ago but somehow forgot to put it in because I didn't own the book. Either way, it did not disappoint, but then I like mountaineering and Everest stories so K2 seemed to be a logical thing for me to like.

[w gall · Rating 3 out of 5]

A life and death situation; two friends, way up high in the Himalayas. One has a broken leg. He philosophises, the other pours forth a flood of profanity. It's really about friendship.

[Mark Woodland · Rating 5 out of 5]

A stunning, gripping play about scaling the Himalayan mountain, K2. Some argue that it's taller than Everest, and most say that it's more vicious and unforgiving. The latter is the quality of that mountain that concerns the story. The original (and award-winning) set was a 30-foot-high wall of ice, and it's on this one area that the action all takes place. There are only two characters, friends, in the play. They think they know one another, but it's their experience on the mountain that teaches them otherwise. It won't give away too much of the plot to say that something bad happens, and the two men are faced with a series of choices and a test of the real relationship between them. Whether or not you can see how it will end does not detract from the excellent storytelling and what passes between the two characters. It is the quality of the storytelling that makes this play at least as good to read as it is to see a good production (due to the technical challenges, it's rare). I recommend against the movie version of the play, which makes the singular mistake of making the movie all about the mountain. They missed the story of the forest for the trees,

[Andrew · Rating 3 out of 5]

The play definitely wins points for originality. The premise of two friends stuck on the side of a mountain is an inspired one. The biggest failure of the piece is that many of the "life story" monologues seemed a bit unnatural and unmotivated, although perhaps two really good actors could pull it off. I am in agreement with the friend who lent me this play is basically an actors dream. Having to act out the conditions of the situation as well as the emotions of the dialogue would be a challenge for any thespian.

[Sara · Rating 2 out of 5]

Interesting premise. Quick read. Probably more compelling on stage. I had just watched Nando Parrado on a History Channel DVD retell the story of surviving for 72 days in the Andes after that planecrash, so mountain survival was on my mind. Haunting, though I've certainly read better plays.

[Alec · Rating 1 out of 5]

I felt no connection to characters and was mostly annoyed throughout the play. In the hands of a competent director and good actors, this could definitely be a nice performance, but I had a hard time picturing how it would go just by reading the script.

[Thom Dunn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Playhouse-in-the-Park, Cincinnati --about 1990--spectacular set..

[Kaethe · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nothing is more filled with dramatic tension than some guys climbing a mountain.