The Cider House Rules, Part 1: Here in St. Cloud's

by Peter Parnell (Adapted by), John Irving (Novel by), Tom Hulce (Conceived for the Stage)

Book by Peter Parnell, adapted from the novel by John Irving

72 pages, Paperback

Published January 1, 2001

About the author

Peter Parnell is an American playwright, television writer, and children's author whose work spans Broadway, Off-Broadway, and television. He adapted The Hunchback of Notre Dame for Disney Theatricals and is known for stage plays such as Trumpery, QED, and The Cider House Rules, the latter earning him several awards. He has worked as a producer and writer on TV series including The West Wing, The Guardian, and BrainDead. With his husband, psychiatrist Justin Richardson, he co-authored the acclaimed and frequently challenged children's book And Tango Makes Three, which has received multiple literary honors. Parnell is Vice-President of the Dramatists Guild of America.

Reviews

[Michael Anderson · Rating 4 out of 5]

The story of an orphan named Homer Wells who ages out of being adopted and stays at the orphanage he was born into. His father figure Dr. Larch begins to teach him his craft so he can be useful. Larch’s peers call when he delivers babies gods work and when he performs abortions, the devils work. Larch sees it all as gods work. When he performs a birth he delivers a baby and when he performs an abortion he is delivering a mother. A story that deals with the complicated moral question surrounding birth, abortion, lust, and the unwanted. Is it a mercy to spare a child a life devoid of love or a kindness to deliver them and attempt to find them a familial love? The play ends with Homer heading out into the world to make his own life with one last goodbye from Larch complete with a “I love you.”

[Neil · Rating 4 out of 5]

As a reader I like this, but I had hopes for it at a community theater, and I couldn't produce it there.

I had forgotten that the events of the novel have darker details than the film adaptation. If anything Parnell's adaptation draws out the darkness in the themes, emphasizing Homer's journey into becoming an abortionist, Dr. Larch's sad reasons for drug addiction, and the crueler things that happen to the orphans. I just can't see putting this version, with onstage abortions and childhood sexual exploration, in front of audiences who for better or worse mostly want happy endings and lighthearted conflicts.

[Matthew Russell · Rating 2 out of 5]

A noble effort, but the stage isn't fit to capture the atmosphere, depth of character, or scope of this story, at least not in this iteration. It has to work too hard to accomplish too little.

[Kl Hurley Johnson · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of my favorites. Would recommend

[Terrell Neuage · Rating 4 out of 5]

better than the movie though I remember the movie more.

[Brian McCann · Rating 5 out of 5]

2021: Outstanding theatrical storytelling. Just a wonderful piece of theater.

2024: I concur with 2021.