Foreskins lament

by Greg McGee

One of the most successful and well-known New Zealand plays is also compelling reading on the page. The power, humour and irony of the language all serve to illustrate a penetrating analysis of New Zealand society, as seen through the lens of sport.

Genres: Drama, Plays, Theatre

96 pages, Paperback

First published April 1, 2014

About the author

Greg McGee is an award-winning New Zealand playwright, television screenwriter, novelist, and biographer.

A promising young rugby player, McGee became a Junior All Black and All Blacks trialist. He graduated from law school, then in 1980 his first play, Foreskin's Lament, debuted. Centred around rugby, this play became iconic in New Zealand and garnered McGee popular acclaim.

He is a successful screenwriter, writing based-on-true story dramatisations and mini-series based on the Erebus disaster and the infamous Lange Government, as well as contributing to several popular television shows (Marlin Bay, Street Legal, Orange Roughies). He also penned the screenplay for Old Scores, a rugby-based feature film.

As a novelist, McGee first wrote under the pseudonym Alix Bosco, winning the prestigious Ngaio Marsh Award for his debut, CUT & RUN. He also wrote All Blacks captain Richie McCaw's biography, one of the bestselling New Zealand books of recent years.

Reviews

[Carly · Rating 5 out of 5]

THIS BOOk IS CRAY CRAY! read at my last book club with the girls! script writing and wine is the way to go! i think if i could add anything, i would add my husband! haha I DONT HAVE ONE WHERE IS HE.i have two kids (vegan) oops look at me, typing away like this is my tinder! @carlscool.com (;
i love how the book really shows how ROUGH and TOUCH this book is! just like how my son describes my casseroles! NO MORE DINNER FOR HIM. i like the character of clean becuase he reminds me of my uncle rodger, and how he used to get drunk with my mom LOL! i think you should all read my new book, "self help, the christian way" by carly desplat. TOP 10 recipies online : pasta , chicken and creamy! yes make the thats what she said joke. i deserve it. #creamychickencasserole. FIND MY HUSBAND.

i hope you all loved this book about football as much as i did!
Carly, OUT


I LOST MY CAT PLEASE FIND. twix.

[Lauren · Rating 4 out of 5]

In 1970s New Zealand, a young player on an amateur rugby team contends with his love of the game versus the reality of the game. There’s more to the plot, but it’s worth not being spoiled before going into the story.

Foreskin is an incredibly unfortunate name. Honestly, the title makes me giggle like a tween. It’s also a shame, because the ridiculous title (seriously, it sounds like a porn title Tina Fey would invent) hides a pretty spectacular drama about the meaning of team within organized sports.

As an American, I kept coming back to the fact that this three-decades old import has eerie parallels to the current debate surrounding American football, especially the NFL. If someone had changed the sport references and some of the place references and told me it was a recently published play by an American playwright, I’d totally believe it.

Granted, the plot is a little overwrought. That’s balanced out by how Mr. McGee captures the cadence and voice of the meathead jock (a demographic that rarely figures in as a central character in theatre). The play has a different feel and attitude than most plays I read, and I would very much like to see it staged. Recommended.

[Charity · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's been a little while since I've read this, but I adored it. McGee explains his views on God in a very humorous, pessimistic, neurotic, Jewish way. It's hilarious. I think anyone who's grown up in any kind of monotheistic religion could relate to his fear of failure and the idea that rebellion could get you smote on the spot. For example, while spilling your 'seed' is wrong, it seems to be an inevitable experience of youth and curiosity. He explains his fear that the first experiments with masturbation are the ones wasting the genius children, Nobel prize winners, honor students, leaving him, with age and experience, with nothing but the degenerates, the criminals and the idiots.

Now that's a funny thought.

[Geralyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was introduced to this play in my first year at varsity and did not understand the significance. After experiencing Rugby and small town life I realises how important the ideas in this play are. I met Greg McGee in 2001 and he kept apologising for the fact I had studied his work! Funny. He made a short film of this called 'Skin' that Mark acted in. So I feel really connected to this work and I hope to teach and relearn it through this generations eyes one day. Absolutely love this important New Zealand text.

[Heather Jaynes · Rating 3 out of 5]

I struggled to get through this. Too scattered not enough plot. But I do enjoy the title.