The Complete Plays, Vol. 1: 1989-1998

by Theresa Rebeck

I am a woman; I am an American; I am a mother; I sometimes write for television, and I sometimes write movies; I play the piano; I knit; I rail at the universe; I am angry; I am sad; I am a comic realist, a misanthrope, and an idealist. There are many ways to categorize me and my work. But for myself, I would most like to be considered a playwright. - Theresa Rebeck, Introduction

Genres: Plays, Theatre, Drama

391 pages, Paperback

First published December 1, 1999

About the author

Theresa Rebeck is a playwright. She also works as a television writer. Her input went into popular shows such as Dream On, Brooklyn Bridge, L.A. Law, American Dreamer, Maximum Bob, First Wave, and Third Watch.
She also wrote and produced Canterbury’s Law, Smith, Law and Order: Criminal Intent and NYPD Blue.
Ms. Rebeck has an MFA in Playwrighting and a PhD. in Victorian Melodrama, from Brandeis University. She is a board member of the Dramatists Guild and has taught at Brandeis and Columbia Universities.
She currently resides in Brooklyn with her husband Jess Lynn and two children, Cooper and Cleo.

Reviews

[James Binz · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm so impressed with her writing and her style. She is an all-around genius and a great capturer of contemporary life. I will be reading Theresa Rebeck again and again.

[Madilyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Icon shit

[Allison · Rating 4 out of 5]

I LOVED Spike Heels. I finished it around 5am and was so thrilled that I had a hard time going back to sleep. I had to write/yell about how funny and important and original it was. You should read it!

Sunday On the Rocks just got to me. I'm not sure why but it put me in a strange mood...strange in a good way. I'd love to see it performed or get to work on it.

Loose Knit was started because around 5am and was almost finished in one sitting. As exhilarating as Spike Heels but with the bizarre addition of "Miles", which you'd need to read the play to fully see the weirdness. I think I'd cast James Spader as "Miles". That says it all. Definitely a worthy read, but not my favorite of the three.

The Family of Mann makes me feel really bad for television writers.

A View of the Dome is a play about the craziness and incorrect-ness of politics.

Definitely the first 3 are my favorites, but the whole collection is rock solid and very entertaining. I love Theresa Rebeck so much that I got her book about writing in showbiz, and am on the hunt for Volume II of her plays.

[Laura Deger · Rating 4 out of 5]

Absolutely fantastic group of full plays and one acts. Theresa Rebeck is one of the most intelligent and entertaining contemporary playwrights out there, and I'm surprised there aren't more companies performing her plays. Her writing goes down like candy, it's that enjoyable. She writes wonderfully complex and hilarious characters for both men and women with interesting stories and situations. I plan on reading her other volumes asap.

[Kristen · Rating 4 out of 5]

These plays are so witty and human. Rebeck was recommended to me as an author that "gets" women. I get lost in these plays within the first 2 pages of each. Vivid characters and monologues that will hopefully help me win jobs! The only reason I don't give them 5 stars is sometimes the use of the f-bomb seems a bit excessive.

[Krk5000 · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of my favorite playwrights. She writes women really well.

[Bryn · Rating 4 out of 5]

She really, really good at writing about white women. And other stuff.