Three Exposures

by John Guare

Brings together three ascerbic comedies by the prize-winning playwright--The House of Blue Leaves, Landscape of the Body, and Bosoms and Neglect--that view family relationships and crumbling American values

Genres: Plays

248 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1982

Reviews

[Stuart · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent collection of John Guare's early work- HOUSE OF BLUE LEAVES, LANDSCAPE OF THE BODY and BOSOMS AND NEGLECT. I personally love Guare, even when he fails, and so for me these plays are great reads. HOUSE OF BLUE LEAVES, which some consider his masterpiece, is a rich and layered black comedy that I have been lucky enough to see a good production of. BOSOMS AND NEGLECT is equally as quotable if not as ambitious but its solid, focused nature is as close as Guare ever seems to get to naturalism. LANDSCAPE OF THE BODY is the most experimental of the works present, a twisting narrative that explores the dark, terrible side of human desire and desperation, a storyline so absurd and unbelievable that it only works because Guare re-stylizes it as a patchwork of flashbacks, dreams and songs that bring home the central theme of how our lives are, when looked at from the outside, a series of unconnected events that often result in unpredictable turns. Thoughtful, provocative work, this book is an excellent sampling of a bold American writer at his best.

[Newly Wardell · Rating 3 out of 5]

These are some interesting plays boy howdy! Just three different roller coasters. There's just so much to unpack here. House of the Blue Leaves is a must read. Bosoms and Neglect is flawed but courageous play. The gut punch this Landscape of the Body. Just so elegantly tragic. John Guare may not be perfect but he is a champion for mental health. The only commonality I could figure was neglect and complicated relationships.

[tenderfoot]

the title I read was The House of Blue Leaves and Two Other Plays (Landscape of the Body; Bosoms and Neglect)