Pontypool

by Tony Burgess

A new play from acclaimed writer Tony Burgess, author of the wildly successful novel, Pontypool Changes Everything . In the sleepy town of Pontypool, Ontario, no one is safe from an epidemic so devastating it will leave you literally speechless.

Genres: Horror, Plays, Drama, Canada, Book Club, Fiction

112 pages, Paperback

First published April 12, 2016

About the author

Tony Burgess is a Canadian novelist and screenwriter. His most notable works include the 1998 novel Pontypool Changes Everything and the screenplay for the film adaptation of that same novel, "Pontypool" (2008).

Burgess’ unique style of writing has been called literary horror fiction and described as ”blended ultra-violent horror and absurdist humour, inflicting nightmarish narratives on the quirky citizens of small-town Ontario: think H. P. Lovecraft meets Stephen Leacock.

Reviews

[Derek Newman-Stille · Rating 5 out of 5]

Pontypool is a radio drama about the power of language to turn people into zombies. It is an outbreak story, situated in the small Ontario town of Pontypool where certain words in the English language have become contaminated, and where these words are spreading, transforming people into zombies who seek out voices and infect the host. It is a play that is about the power of words and the power of the radio for spreading words like viruses The play makes the reader hyper aware of the way that they are speaking and understanding language, allowing the reader to feel the potential of being infected by the words they are seeing on the page (or, if it is performed, the words they are hearing). There is a sense of danger about reading the script, a feeling that one’s mind, one’s language is potentially dangerous.

It is a play that evokes the concern that even our inquisitive nature is a danger to us because the star of the play, shock jock radio host Grant Mazzy perceives it to be important to investigate and share information about the virus even after he realizes that speaking in any way would allow the virus to spread. He has to balance his need to deliver news… with the fact that the delivery system (him) is contaminated.

This is an infectious play, one that needles its way into your brain and invites you to keep contemplating it, keep questioning it, even as you realize that the content of the play is telling you that investigating and contemplating can be infectious.

To explore a longer version of this review, visit my website at https://speculatingcanada.ca/2017/07/...

[Dominick · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not quite sure whether this counts as SF or horror--with maybe a humour categorization being permissible, as well, as it is at times quite funny. Anyway, this dramatic adaptation by Burgess of his novel Pontypool Changes Everything presents an interesting take on a zombie apocalypse. Burgess's conceit--that the zombie virus spreads in language--is clever and plays on other, earlier ideas of the viral/dangerous power of language. The action unfolds in a radio station (ironically, since radio is a purely spoken-language medium) as the plague rages outside, its cause unexplained and no cure forthcoming, though there are hints that avoiding English is a way to avoid the plague. The play's most ironic moment, perhaps, comes when a French broadcast message, which includes the instruction, "do not translate this message," is translated and read on the radio--including that final sentence! Anyway, narratively this is a bit thin, and the characters are underdeveloped, but otherwise it's a unique and fascinating addition to the zombie genre.

[Justin Lahey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Some books just find their way into your hands, or at least into your mind even before they make it to your hands. You don’t find them, they find you! “Pontypool” by Tony Burgess is such a book for me. I stumbled upon the movie on television many years ago and was immediately drawn to it. I recently moved to southeast Ontario, and I often see the Pontypool exit on the highway. I didn’t even know it was a real place! And now, while browsing in a bookstore in Stratford, I came upon the play Pontypool.

Part Talk Radio, part zombie apocalypse, Pontypool is a fresh take on an often-visited genre. Simple in setting but complex in execution, Tony Burgess has written a very good play which I one day hope to have the pleasure of seeing live. I also plan on reading more of his written works.

[C.H. Pearce · Rating 4 out of 5]

“Some words are infected, and it spreads out when the contaminated word is spoken.”

Absolutely loved the chilling Pontypool radio play (you can find the CBC radio play in various places online including YouTube). If you’re hesitating between Burgess’ novel Pontypool Changes Everything, the film Pontypool, or Burgess’ radio drama/script, like I was, I’d 100 percent recommend the radio drama. (I’d also love to see this play live if I get the opportunity.) The audio medium and the radio station setting—with its shock jock main character and small cast, while violence escalates outside the station—is the perfect vehicle to tell this story about a zombie virus that’s transmitted by language.

[Danielle · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the script of the radio play version of “Pontypool.” I didn’t realise this when I bought it (the book I was looking for is called “Pontypool Changes Everything), but it was still a fun read.

That said, this book is basically word-for-word the same as the movie of the same title, so unless you’re a hardcore fan you’re probably better off watching that instead.

[FoxClouds · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars

Wonderfully creepy with a linguistic twist. Would be a great recommendation for Welcome To Night Vale fans.

[David Eden · Rating 4 out of 5]

A clever and suspenseful play. I enjoyed it.

[toxictomatosoup · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked it, it has a different ending than the movie. I prefered the movie only because its a longer more immersive experience.

[Lee-Anna Semenyna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great one act, creepy... Very creepy. It would be interesting to stage.