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Death Takes a Holiday: A Comedy in Three Acts
Produced with great success on Broadway, this striking drama has established itself among the important plays of our time. It is based on the poetic conception of death suspending all activities for three days during which he falls in love with a beautiful girl and through her realizes why mortals fear him. The mood of the play is established with remarkable skill and while it is charged with exciting moments, it is a perfect background for a love story that is as simple as it is appealing. The character who symbolizes Death is a very human person, with no conventional claptrap dragged in for mere effect. Here is a play that stimulates discussion and presents a novel and optimistic philosophy of the problems of love and death. This is one of the most popular and successful plays for amateurs.
162 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1957
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
September 18, 2013
I've waited forty years to find this play, seen various adaptations in film and TV, but reading it was always a strong desire. It's four o'clock in the morning; maybe this is not a good play to read just before going to bed.
March 4, 2012
Contains a few points that may be spoilers :)
This is a lovely, dramatic and powerful little play. I bought the book after years of loving "Meet Joe Black" a film based upon the play starring Brad Pitt. I'm not sure about the description "A comedy in three acts" it had its moments of humour but not enough I think to warrant putting comedy in the title.
The play, as described, studies the nature of life, love and death and the consequences of death taking a three day holiday and taking on human form where he falls in love with a young woman and learns the beauty of life, the power of love and the reason why men fear him. Some interesting thoughts of death were considered here, the presence of death in the universe, the effect on day to day life if death was suspended, the idea that death can choose when to take and when to leave. Also the different ways that people view death and their attitudes towards it. Death is portrayed here as merely a man, no special effects or grim reaper style claptrap, but beneath him the guests (mainly the women) can sense eternity and shadows, the abyss. The idea that death can in fact love, and sacrifice his happiness for the one he ends up loving, as her family try and beg for her to live, is a very interesting one. As is the way Death tries, and fails, to explain to them that the other side is not to be feared. A lovely twist at the end is the fact that Grazia saw him in his true form all along with makes the ending satisfying since she was not afraid of what she saw and death ended up being loved for what he was. There is something other worldly about Grazia which is never really explored, which is why she was the only one to respond to Death in that way.
I liked this play very much, I am surprised it is not more well known. I can see how some people could find it boring or dull but when you consider between the lines and the deeper essence of it, it is a powerful, dramatic play.
This is a lovely, dramatic and powerful little play. I bought the book after years of loving "Meet Joe Black" a film based upon the play starring Brad Pitt. I'm not sure about the description "A comedy in three acts" it had its moments of humour but not enough I think to warrant putting comedy in the title.
The play, as described, studies the nature of life, love and death and the consequences of death taking a three day holiday and taking on human form where he falls in love with a young woman and learns the beauty of life, the power of love and the reason why men fear him. Some interesting thoughts of death were considered here, the presence of death in the universe, the effect on day to day life if death was suspended, the idea that death can choose when to take and when to leave. Also the different ways that people view death and their attitudes towards it. Death is portrayed here as merely a man, no special effects or grim reaper style claptrap, but beneath him the guests (mainly the women) can sense eternity and shadows, the abyss. The idea that death can in fact love, and sacrifice his happiness for the one he ends up loving, as her family try and beg for her to live, is a very interesting one. As is the way Death tries, and fails, to explain to them that the other side is not to be feared. A lovely twist at the end is the fact that Grazia saw him in his true form all along with makes the ending satisfying since she was not afraid of what she saw and death ended up being loved for what he was. There is something other worldly about Grazia which is never really explored, which is why she was the only one to respond to Death in that way.
I liked this play very much, I am surprised it is not more well known. I can see how some people could find it boring or dull but when you consider between the lines and the deeper essence of it, it is a powerful, dramatic play.
October 18, 2012
BOTTOM LINE: Death and the meaning of life, set in a High Society villa in rural Italy, 1929. Beautifully written.
What would happen should Death decide he wanted to experience Life, for just three days? Beautiful metaphysical ramble through Society Types and mores of the Twenties, with several really beautiful speeches and some points which are still rather relevant and interesting. Entirely introspective and terribly slow-moving, but far darker, richer, and deeper than the movie versions. And the ending still packs a powerful punch, although you know quite well what’s coming; made me wish I could have seen the original actors on stage. One of those intriguing-but-obscure classics that I’ve always wanted to read, and I’m glad I finally did.
What would happen should Death decide he wanted to experience Life, for just three days? Beautiful metaphysical ramble through Society Types and mores of the Twenties, with several really beautiful speeches and some points which are still rather relevant and interesting. Entirely introspective and terribly slow-moving, but far darker, richer, and deeper than the movie versions. And the ending still packs a powerful punch, although you know quite well what’s coming; made me wish I could have seen the original actors on stage. One of those intriguing-but-obscure classics that I’ve always wanted to read, and I’m glad I finally did.
August 22, 2022
The movie Meet Joe Black is a modern day retelling of this play. They differ in many ways, and I prefer the film, but still enjoyed the play though I hardly consider it a comedy other than the double entendres Death uses throughout.
Thoughtful, touching, with annoyances as well, but given the brevity, I think the choices were unavoidable, and I would be curious to see other variants on the tale if there are any.
Thoughtful, touching, with annoyances as well, but given the brevity, I think the choices were unavoidable, and I would be curious to see other variants on the tale if there are any.
June 26, 2012
I enjoyed the read of this three act play in which the Death Angel takes human form to experience the Human experience of love. Death takes the form of a Shadow to interact with humans of wealth and status.....no shit....nobody wants to experience the life of the common man and woman. This is prevalent in books, movies, and plays. The common people have nothing to offer other than common experience. The rich and privileged are the ones that have something to tell that is more interesting than the stories of mundane life lived by most of us in this world.
This story is the basis of the movie "Meet Joe Black" one of my all time favorite movies staring Brad Pitt and Anthony Hopkins. A wonderful movie that touches every emotion I have. The movie is by far....in my opinion....better than the play. I had to reach into several places in order to find the book. It is rare. The movie is easily obtained and I recommend everyone get the dvd and enjoy the movie over and over again.......mgc
This story is the basis of the movie "Meet Joe Black" one of my all time favorite movies staring Brad Pitt and Anthony Hopkins. A wonderful movie that touches every emotion I have. The movie is by far....in my opinion....better than the play. I had to reach into several places in order to find the book. It is rare. The movie is easily obtained and I recommend everyone get the dvd and enjoy the movie over and over again.......mgc
March 8, 2026
The play that inspired "Meet Joe Black".
Wanting to experience what a mortal life has to offer, Death himself assumes the human form of Prince Sirki for three days, staying with Duke Lambert and his guests. After tasting various pleasures, he seeks out the most heart-filling, yet also heart-breaking, sensation of all... love.
I personally think "Meet Joe Black" is ultimately the richer and more developed version of this tale, covering a longer timeframe, exploring Joe's activities more thoroughly and adding more emotional weight with Bill Parrish's plot line. The majority of Sirki's visit here, by contrast, is skipped or glossed over. That said, there are some truly beautiful speeches here, and I loved the revelation in the final moments.
Wanting to experience what a mortal life has to offer, Death himself assumes the human form of Prince Sirki for three days, staying with Duke Lambert and his guests. After tasting various pleasures, he seeks out the most heart-filling, yet also heart-breaking, sensation of all... love.
I personally think "Meet Joe Black" is ultimately the richer and more developed version of this tale, covering a longer timeframe, exploring Joe's activities more thoroughly and adding more emotional weight with Bill Parrish's plot line. The majority of Sirki's visit here, by contrast, is skipped or glossed over. That said, there are some truly beautiful speeches here, and I loved the revelation in the final moments.
December 23, 2023
Death spares several people in a wealthy European family and decides to live as a human for three days, where he experiences love and other phenomena while the humans around him have a variety of reactions. This holds up well for its age, balancing humor, mystery, and interesting philosophical points
November 21, 2022
One of the most profound stories ever written.
June 17, 2023
Loved this play. Loved the characters and especially Death. Great lines. Funny and thought provoking and was on the edge of my seat to see how it ended.
November 12, 2024
Definitely old school (1929) theatre and it comes off more as a philosophical discussion rather than a narrative. Probably better read than performed.
Single set
6w/7m
Single set
6w/7m
September 15, 2025
storytelling that feels like a fairytale/fable/mythology will always have my whole heart. i love this little play. the movie is so fun too!
October 20, 2010
Greatest play ever written? Highly unlikely. I adore it, though. I'm not sure why. When I was about six, shortly after moving from Juneau (AK) to Albany (Ca.) my parents took me to a production of this play at Theatre of the Blue Rose, in Berkeley. It wasn't the first play I ever saw, but for some reason it enchanted me. Years later I read it, and enjoyed it. Saw the 1934 movie. Hell, I even watched Meet Joe Black, simply because it was based upon Death Takes a Holiday. Had I "discovered" the play in a different manner, I very well might not have liked it. Regardless of whether or not it deserves such a high rating, it definitely deserves to be performed more often than it is.
September 22, 2020
Such a great idea: Death has a break, and learns about life and love. I wanted to like this book, and there were moving passages, and much food for thought. However, I am done with older men skirting the edges of legality in pursuing their females. I could not shake the distaste arising from Death, in the form of an older man, pursuing the barely legal “charming and gentle Grazia”. Also, it was all a touch too melodramatic, which I can understand given the era in which it was written. All in all, I just wish I could read a version of this written by Neil Gaiman.
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews