Gnit

by Will Eno

“The marvel of Mr. Eno’s new version is how closely it tracks the original while also being, at every moment and unmistakably, a Will Eno play. After climbing the craggy peaks of Ibsen’s daunting play, Mr. Eno has brought down from its dizzying heights a surprising crowd-pleasing (if still strange) work.” — Charles Isherwood, New York Times

“ Gnit is classic Will Eno. By that I mean I was thrilled by it.” — Kris Vire, TimeOut Chicago

“If ever a play made me want to be a better person, this is it.” — Bob Fischbach, Omaha World-Herald

Peter Gnit, a funny enough, but so-so specimen of humanity, makes a lifetime of bad decisions on the search for his True Self. This is a rollicking yet cautionary tale about (among other things) how the opposite of love is laziness. Gnit is a faithful, unfaithful and willfully American misreading of Henrik Ibsen’s Peer Gynt (a nineteenth-century Norwegian play), written by Will Eno, who has never been to Norway.

Will Eno ’s most recent plays include The Open House (Signature Theatre, New York, 2014; Obie Award, Lucille Lortel Award for Best Play) and The Realistic Joneses (Yale Repertory Theatre, New Haven, 2012; Broadway, 2014). His play Middletown received the Horton Foote Prize and Thom Pain (based on nothing) was a finalist for the 2005 Pulitzer Prize. Mr. Eno lives Brooklyn.

Genres: Plays, Theatre, Drama

72 pages, Paperback

First published August 27, 2013

Reviews

[Doug · Rating 4 out of 5]

Subtitled "A fairly rough translation of Henrik Ibsen's Peer Gynt" Gnit is actually a pretty free form absurdist modern adaptation of such. Eno's very droll, deadpan humor actually compliments Ibsen's original more than you might think, and it would be a very interesting play to actually see performed.

[. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really simple and enjoyable. Writing is really fun and easy to understand. It felt like i was watching a movie.

[Daniel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Haven't read Peer Gynt, so flying blind here. Couple moments of beautiful sentiment—the closing story into intermission of a son to his dying mother is stunning—and otherwise just a unique portrait of a singularly self-centered individual.

[Jeremy Cummings · Rating 5 out of 5]

Disclaimer: I haven't read the book, but rather saw it performed.

Will Eno has a beautiful way of mixing comedy and tragedy that expresses some of the most poignant, hopeless, and introspective thoughts imaginable. I was completely floored by this existentialist take on a biography of the self.

[Ross Nelson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not really sure how to rate this. On the one hand, Eno's wackiness comes through, on the other hand, Peer Gynt is just as annoying as ever. In some ways they're a good match, but I prefer Eno straight and my Ibsen post-Gynt.

[Rebecca Lartigue · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm not familiar with Peer Gynt, but this stands on its own as a weird / wonderful modern morality tale with no simple morals but great humanity and (odd) humor throughout.

[Not Mike · Rating 4 out of 5]

Play.

[By The Cover · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very funny poignant look on what it means to search for your sense of self-using dry humor inspired by the classic Peer Gynt

[Mauro · Rating 5 out of 5]

Vintage Eno dialogues. Replace GNIT with yourself and check if you are living right.