I'm Gonna Pray for You So Hard

by Halley Feiffer

Ella is a precocious and fiercely competitive actress whose aims in life are making her famous playwright father proud—and becoming famous herself. In the aftermath of a boozy, drug-fueled evening when Ella’s father is particularly hurtful, she flings herself into the arms of a young director with whom she begins to collaborate on a one-woman show . . . about her father. Halley Feiffer’s dark, probing, and much-anticipated new play is a fierce, funny, and gloves-off take on the eternal struggles of parents and children to find common ground.

Genres: Plays, Drama, Theatre

53 pages, Paperback

First published December 30, 2014

Reviews

[Manny · Rating 2 out of 5]

Then I found something else to do
I wrote a play about you
As the French might say
Une pièce à clef
I spend an hour throwing poo
Until it's all over you
And it made me some money too
So put what you like in your review
Daddy, Daddy you bastard, I'm through

(With apologies to Sylvia Plath)

[Doug · Rating 4 out of 5]

Halley Feiffer, a promising young actress/playwright, is the daughter of famous curmudgeonly Jewish playwright Jules Feiffer. Her play concerns a promising young actress/playwright whose father is a famous curmudgeonly Jewish playwright. Hmmm.... I guess, in this case at least, it pays to write what you know. A tour de force for two top actors, I'm sure this plays like gangbusters, but it's still pretty exciting just on the page.

[Alexis · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is something that would probably be incredible to see, but at the same time it was horrifying to read. This is meant to be seen performed by two incredible actors--on the page it is almost traumatizing?
This father daughter relationship is FUCKed up and I get that's the point but whew. I also get Feiffer's criticism of recycled masturbatory theater but isn't this... that? to an extent?
At the same time
there is something very interesting about giving a platform to an old white guy with a chip on his shoulder who won't stop going on an on about the good ole days, about what REAL art is and the whole time we're hoping he chokes... and then he does? Something about a daughter who is desperate for the approval of her abusive famous father. About their very close on the borderline incestuous relationship. About seeing that relationship blow up, but not soon enough to prevent her from becoming him. But rather than forgive him in his desperate final moments she gives him exactly what we (I) was hoping she'd give him earlier on? And it's gross and horrible and wrong but doesn't he deserve it? And it's okay because it's not real, it's a play! Did it even happen at all or was it just part of the play within the play? Even more so not real and therefore okay?

That's theater, baby!

[Emma Rund · Rating 3 out of 5]

A weird wild ride! Very very dark father-daughter relationship but I loved the parallels between scene 1 and scene 2

[LYS. · Rating 3 out of 5]

“I take the bullshit people feed me and I make it my own.” —David

the dialogue is quick-paced and punchy and the father-daughter dynamic and subsequent parallels are gutting but i wasn’t really a huge fan in general? idk

[Kailey · Rating 3 out of 5]

ladies, your worst nightmare isn’t turning into your mother—it’s turning into your father

[Lenny · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow. Visceral, hard-hitting and ultimately quite moving. Feiffer explores the torrid relationship between a very successful, drug-fueled, hard-drinking father playwright and his actor daughter. He comes off as fairly horrid, encouraging his daughter's drug use and drinking, constantly cutting her down and then building her way up. His manipulative ways are destructive . . . and yet . . . they lead her to success as an artist and playwright. But there is a great price to pay. Searing and thoughtful. I'd love to see this performed. When I reach the right age I'd love to play the father.

[Sissy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting. It does what the characters say to do. It isn’t safe. Some of the language I feel is unnecessary, like it doesn’t really “add” to the concept. Some of it resonated pretty hard with me, in good ways and bad, which seems to be the point. Im neither here for it nor against it.

[Glynnis · Rating 2 out of 5]

Oof!

[Hope · Rating 4 out of 5]

Woof

[Noa Shapiro · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really liked the structure of it, but I found it a little outdated and Ella was not a very interesting character. Definitely interested in her other work but I think I’ll leave this one.

[shinji · Rating 3 out of 5]

:(

[Newly Wardell · Rating 3 out of 5]

I didnt hate it. I dont understand the appeal of recreational drug use with a parent but to each their own. I wanted it to be really great and it's not.

[GTGriffin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Incredible dialogue.

[Tommy Boyce · Rating 1 out of 5]

I’m gonna be constructive here, you should k*ll yourself

[Rachel Gorman · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars

[Isabelle · Rating 3 out of 5]

Wasn't sure how to take in their relationship, but ouch, that second scene hit like a truck.

[Jessica Pearson · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Did this play move me?” “Did I relate to it?” “Did some part of me wish I hadn’t related to it?” These are the kinds of questions that I want my audience to—”

[Erica · Rating 5 out of 5]

When David comes back in Scene 2... I fucking l o s t it. The more I've thought about this, the more I'm obsessed with it.

[Kat · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing play.

[Fred]

Scabrous!