Melancholy Play: a chamber musical

by Sarah Ruhl

In this chamber musical version of Sarah Ruhl's Melancholy Play, Tilly's melancholy is of an exquisite quality. She turns her melancholy into a sexy thing, and every stranger she meets falls in love with her. One day, inexplicably, Tilly becomes happy, and wreaks havoc on the lives of her paramours. Frances, Tilly's hairdresser, becomes so melancholy that she turns into an almond. It is up to Tilly to get her back.

Genres: Plays, Theatre, Drama

80 pages, Paperback

Published May 24, 2017

About the author

Sarah Ruhl (born 1974) is an American playwright. She is the recipient of a MacArthur Fellowship and the PEN/Laura Pels International Foundation for Theater Award for a distinguished American playwright in mid-career.

Originally, she intended to be a poet. However, after she studied under Paula Vogel at Brown University (A.B., 1997; M.F.A., 2001), she was persuaded to switch to playwriting. Her first play was The Dog Play, written in 1995 for one of Vogel's classes. Her roots in poetry can be seen in the way she uses language in her plays. She also did graduate work at Pembroke College, Oxford.

In September 2006, she received a MacArthur Fellowship. The announcement of that award stated: "Sarah Ruhl, 32, playwright, New York City. Playwright creating vivid and adventurous theatrical works that poignantly juxtapose the mundane aspects of daily life with mythic themes of love and war."

Reviews

[Chase B · Rating 3 out of 5]

There's a word-in another language- that explains why I enjoyed this play yet am still bewildered by it.

[Joshua · Rating 5 out of 5]

Funny and fanciful, "Melancholy Play" is indicative of most of Ruhl's early work: inventive and often silly, but with a deep heart to it and an honesty in play. Melancholy Play strikes just the right notes of quirk without becoming precious. The characters, more cyphers than fully fleshed out people, fit perfectly into the farce-like genre and you never feel their being untrue to the world in which they live. Uncluttered and painfully funny (and sad, too), Melancholy Play makes a healthy defense for melancholy as a state not only be understood, but cherished.

[Lukas · Rating 5 out of 5]

This play is so poetic. It made me feel like I was falling in love. Sarah Ruhl is continuing to impress me.

[max theodore · Rating 4 out of 5]

no idea what that was but i want to play tilly.

[Sophie Boyce · Rating 5 out of 5]

“She was so beautiful—when she was sad—I couldn’t help myself—I wanted to bathe in her sadness like a bath—“

[sam lucas · Rating 4 out of 5]

what it feels like to be depressed but also to be with people u know love you

[Karis Joy · Rating 3 out of 5]

This play is so strange but I didn’t not enjoy it

[Cori · Rating 3 out of 5]

(Play discussion group script #35)

[Melissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love Sarah Ruhl. Such a creative and thoughtful writer! Does she top Eurydice? No, but this is still that poignant, sad humor that Ruhl has mastered. Beautiful metaphors, weird characters, and a female lead make this a play worth reading.

[Matthew · Rating 3 out of 5]

I get it, but I don't love it.

[Kat · Rating 5 out of 5]

wow this play was BIZARRE but i kind of love it?

[Tom Houlton · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really fun and surprisingly weird.
Style and character match perfectly!
Brilliant play!

[Theatrical Books Angie Brown · Rating 3 out of 5]

🌟2.5
This play had it's problems and it's successes. The storyline was hard to follow at times. I found myself not knowing how I got from A to B. And though I eventually figured it out, it was frustrating. There was also no real plot to follow. However, the dialogues were entertaining and fun and the end was very interesting and unique. It was also surprisingly deep, considering the comedic themes in the rest of the play. Despite the problematic execution of the story, I did enjoy reading it. The ideas were unique and original and the characters were great comedic relief. The play may be easier to follow if seen on a stage. I am glad I read this play, though I would not specifically recommend this to anyone.

[Brittney · Rating 4 out of 5]

Defiantly one of my favorite plays I've read for my play reading class I think. This was a nice break to some of the dense and heaven subject matters we have had to deal with in others, but then it was also not as hard to follow and understand as others. That being said there were a couple of details that I want to be sure we discuss in class, mainly the significance of the character of Julian and of Almonds. But over all would love to see this in production.

[Montana Goodman · Rating 3 out of 5]

As with all of the Sarah Ruhl plays I’ve read, this made me feel uncomfortable and made my emotions feel stretched. I felt like the floor was constantly shifting beneath me, unsure if I loved or hated the characters, and feeling some sense of grief toward the modern dismissal of melancholy.

[Jaymes · Rating 5 out of 5]

This play is one of my all-time favourites. It's witty and funny, melancholic and sad, and beautiful in its writing and vision. I don't often sit and read plays, but this one kept my rapt attention the whole way through. I would love to see this one on stage.

[Grace Leneghan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very poetic.

[Kate O’Carroll · Rating 4 out of 5]

I wish I could do half stars Bc I liked this but preferred cowboy

[Grace · Rating 4 out of 5]

This play was quirky and humorous. It approaches the topic in a way that is theatrical and abstract but still grounded in truth. Would love to see a production of this show.

[Evan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Absurd, hilarious, beautiful, honest; I love it.

[emmy · Rating 5 out of 5]

right

[Emma Bucknam · Rating 5 out of 5]

Simultaneously bizarre and touching. I enjoyed this a lot

[Gracie · Rating 5 out of 5]

it doesn't matter if we're all crazy as long as we're nuts together <3

Finished this last night, loved seeing it, loved reading it

[AG]

fascinated by this one! the thing that strikes me right now is how much space ruhl always provides for interpretation. lots of thoughts!

[R.M. · Rating 5 out of 5]

reread for me! Still obsessed, still bitter my school didn't pick it for next season. Looking for scenes for class <3

[Sean Aiken · Rating 5 out of 5]

this it the funniest book i’ve ever read

[alice starnes · Rating 5 out of 5]

the painful, guilty, melancholy inflections, the whole reactive of my everyday life is reversed (barthes 23)

[Charlotte Bartow Fuchs · Rating 4 out of 5]

sarah ruhls writing style is so comforting, it feels like a hug. sarah you will forever be my idol i love you endlessly.

[Gareth Davies · Rating 3 out of 5]

The ending really turns me off which is a shame because the rest of the play is so beautiful.
Why almonds?
Would love to see this play live to hear the music alongside the acting.
Love the implementation of the cello and the unawareness/awareness the characters have of Julian.
The set and quick transitions all would make for a really fun scope of interpretation.

[Cynda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review to Follow.