In Arabia We'd All Be Kings

by Stephen Adly Guirgis

Book by Stephen Adly Guirgis

Genres: Plays, Theatre

59 pages, Paperback

First published February 1, 2002

About the author

Stephen Adly Guirgis is an American playwright, screenwriter, director, and actor. He is a member and a former co-artistic director of New York City's LAByrinth Theater Company. His plays have been produced both Off-Broadway and on Broadway, as well as in the UK. His play Between Riverside and Crazy won the 2015 Pulitzer Prize for Drama.

Reviews

[Thomas]

Looking back on this play, I really didn't understand what the life of a junkie meant. Do you ever think about books you read, that dealt with rough social issues or big questions, and realize you never understood what it was saying? Even if you thought you got it?

[Willywa · Rating 3 out of 5]

not as deep as others

[Christy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting ensemble piece but the arc isn't there

[Em Stern · Rating 4 out of 5]

a bit confusing because of how many characters they are. but good read. love the writing.

[Darius · Rating 2 out of 5]

It's not what I'd call black comedy, but its few intensely funny moments rescue it from total bleakness. Actually, there's some real heart to the play, in every character, so I'm surprised it doesn't appeal to me more. Inept sincerity resulting in occasional laughs is usually right up my alley. The whole world of the play is just So inept though-- it's painful to watch everyone fuck each other up so bad. Partly it's hard to tell in the end if this play shows us how constantly unreliable human nature is, or how thorough an upheaval gentrification is. Not that being gentrified ever feels reliable, but what Exactly are we meant to feel hopeless about, right?

[Charlie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved the characters, but the plot...? What plot?