Play It Again, Sam

by Woody Allen

Hardcover book in very good condition. Johnny-Sells ships fast and emails tracking info!

Genres: Plays, Humor, Drama, Theatre, Fiction, American, Film

88 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1969

About the author

Noted American actor, screenwriter, and filmmaker Woody Allen, originally Allen Stewart Konigsberg explored the neuroses of the urban middle class in comedies of manners, such as Annie Hall (1977) and Deconstructing Harry (1997).

This director, jazz musician, and playwright thrice won Academy Award. His large body of work mixes satire, wit and humor in the most respected and prolific cerebral style in the modern era. Allen directs also in the majority of his movies. For inspiration, Allen draws heavily on literature, philosophy, psychology, Judaism, European cinema, and city of New York, where he lives.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Woody_A...

Reviews

[Amir · Rating 4 out of 5]

خوب بیایید نمایشنامه‌ی دوم رو ول کنیم و بچسبیم به نمایشنامه‌ی اول. «دوباره اون آهنگو بزن سم» یکی از «شیرین‌ترین» متن‌هایی بود که تا حالا خوندم. کسی که کارهای وودی الن رو دنبال کرده باشه از هیچ‌چیزی تعجب نمی‌کنه. بدون دیدن اسم نویسنده با خوندن همون ده صفحه‌ی اول میشه حدس زد که این کار هم کار خودشه. قضیه قضیه‌ی یه مثلث عشقی هست و یه عشق ممنوعه. اما باز هم دیالوگ‌نویسی‌های جذاب وودی الن کار خودش رو می‌کنه و این موضوع نخ‌نما تبدیل میشه به نمایش‌نامه‌ای که می‌تونی موقع خوندنش حتی قه‌قاه بزنی. مثل همیشه باز هم یه شخصیت اصلی دست و پا چلفتی وودی آلنیایی داریم که همه‌ی جذابیتش به گندهای معصومانه‌ای هست که می‌زنه. این شخصیت با این‌که شاید نزدیک چهل ساله تو فیلم‌ها و داستان‌ها و نمایش‌نامه‌های وودی الن سر و کله‌ش پیدا میشه اما هنوز انگار نمی‌خواد از پا بشینه... فکر کنم آدم‌های خوش‌شانسی هستیم که هم‌عصر این موجود دوست‌داشتنی هستیم
...
راستی معمولا ترجمه‌ی نمایش‌نامه‌ها رو تو بهترین حالت باید در حد قابل تحمل و اینا ارزیابی کرد. اما حالا که فکرش رو می‌کنم ترجمه‌ی این دو تا نمایش‌نامه‌ نه تنها اذیت نکرد که خیلی روون و باورپذیر بود. دم بهرنگ رجبی گرم

خلاصه این‌که با خیال راحت میشه رفت سمت این کتاب
:)

[Mohammad Ali Shamekhi · Rating 4 out of 5]

نمره ی واقعی: 3.5

هر دو نمایشنامه جالب و خواندنی با خندیدن های مکرر :)

[Arman · Rating 5 out of 5]

وودی الن جز 3 شخصیت محبوب زندگی منه و انقدری ازش فیلم دیدم و کتاب خوندم که قبل از شروع به تماشا یا خوندن هر کدوم از اثرهاش، بدونم که قراره دقایق خیلی لذت بخشی رو پشت سر بگذارم. نمایشنامه "دوباره اون آهنگو بزن، سم" یک نمایشنامه کمدیه که باز هم شخصیت خود وودی الن با نام "الن" و با تمام ویژگی های تیپیکالش مثل خوره سینما و ادبیات بودن، دست و پا چلفتی بودن، قد کوتاه بودن و عینک ته استکانی زدن، توش وجود داره و بعد از یک شکست عشقی، الان به کمک زوجی که بهترین دوستاش هم هستن، دنبال یک کیس تازه می گرده. فکر می کنم همین قدر توضیح دادن بس باش، چون بیشتر از این خطر لو رفتن نمایشنامه و اسپویل کردنش رو می تونه داشته باشه. ترجمه بهرنگ رجبی از نشر چشمه خیلی خوبه و خوشبختانه به نظر میرسه که سانسور خاصی هم وجود نداشته (البته متن انگلیسی رو نخوندم که مقایسه کنم). شاید اولین بار بود که حین خوندن یک کتاب، چندین بار خیلی بلند قهقهه زدم. حتماارزشش رو داره که امتحانش کنید. هر چیزی که به وسیله وودی الن تهیه شده باشه قطعاً ارزش امتحان کردن رو داره. امیدوارم به این زودی ها از دستش ندیم

[Samaneh · Rating 3 out of 5]

راستش اینه که آدم هیچ وقت نمی دونه چی می خواد . آدم فکر می کنه یه جور آدم مشخصو می خواد و بعد یکیو می بینه که هیچی از چیزهایی که می خواسته رو نداره و بدون هیچ دلیلی عاشقش می شه .

[Ivana Books Are Magic · Rating 3 out of 5]

Let me start by admitting that I have embarked on reading this play with a whole set of prejudices against Woody Allen. I honestly believed I would dislike seeing the play the stage- only I didn't. Nobody was more surprised than me. I dislike the man, alright? Both as a film maker and as a person (possibly also as an actor?). I think that as a person he has done some really horrible things. As a film maker and actor, he's just not my cup of tea. I never liked his films. Not even before all the stuff about him came out, that's not even the reason. The truth is that I didn't find Woody Allen to be that terribly funny. I can see why others thought him funny, but to me his awkwardness often seemed like a self-dense hiding his selfishness. I believed his ramblings were a form of passive aggressive behaviour. I considered Woody's writing (as witnessed in his scripts) to be too narcissus and self-indulgent to be any good. His movies were watchable, but I never enjoyed them. I was pretty sure this play would be more of the same old.

This play, however, is actually really good. It is well written and easy to read. Watching it on stage was a treat. There are some tiny things that annoy me, but on overall I have honestly enjoyed it. Play it Again, Sam is filled with wonderfully humane humour. It tells a story of a man Allan Felix who is trying to get over his wife leaving him by setting on a serious of disastrous dates. Honestly, this play was so much better that I expected. As someone who has never liked his films, I'm perplexed by how much I liked this play. It is not a masterpiece, but it is quite lovely. The isolated individual that is our protagonist was easy to sympathize with. Yes, I could still see Woody in him, but it was a more human Woody. One that doesn't hide between irony, sarcasm and all that. Simply a human being human and vulnerable. It made all the difference I guess.

So, maybe I was wrong. Maybe Woody Allen has some writing talent. I'm still not crazy about his writing, though. I'm just admitting that it is not as bad as I thought. What did I learn today? If you dislike someone's films, it doesn't mean you'll dislike his plays. Nevertheless, I doubt I'll read more of him. True, this play was better than I excepted but I'm still not sold. It is good to try something new but with so many authors I enjoy more, why not stick with what I like?

[Ehsan'Shokraie' · Rating 3 out of 5]

طنز خاص وودی آلن..نمایشنامه ای که با لبخند خوانده می شود..

[Sajede · Rating 4 out of 5]

این کتاب رو پارسال توی کافه بیسان خوندم. دوستم داشت کنارم با لپتاپ کار می‌کرد و من یه کتاب رندوم از قفسه برداشتم و شروع کردم به خوندن. هیچ‌وقت یادم نبود که این رو خوندم که توی گودریدز واردش کنم. امروز یهو یادش افتادم.

[Giacomo · Rating 4 out of 5]

"datti un contegno nino, stai franando nell'isterico"

[Maha Soltani · Rating 3 out of 5]

.شما به من بامزه تر از وودي آلن را معرفي كنيد .=)))

[Roya · Rating 5 out of 5]

یه کتاب که میتونه بخندونتت

[Valentina Markasović · Rating 2 out of 5]

The rape jokes really didn't age well, huh

[Golakoo · Rating 3 out of 5]

همیشه از وودی آلن فیلم دیده‌بودم. حالا خوندنِ نمایش‌نامه ازش می‌تونست واسم جالب باشه. اونم منی که کلن نمایش‌نامه خوندن و خیلی دوست دارم. مثل همیشه وودی آلنِ متخصصِ روابط و پیچیدگی‌های آدمی در روابط عشقی من و به وجد آورد. می‌شه خوند و لذت برد. با تموم شدن نمایش‌نامه اول و بعد از گذشت چند هفته از خوندنش شخصیت‌ها هنوز با من هستند. نمایش‌نامه تموم نشده. من مطمئنم آلن باز هم با دختر همسایه‌ی جدید به مشکل می‌خوره و تنها می‌مونه. کلن به پایانِ تلخ علاقه‌مندم.

[Ali Mousavi · Rating 5 out of 5]

زنده باد آقای آلن! شما کمدین محبوب من هستید.

[adam · Rating 5 out of 5]

“What are you doing Saturday night?
Committing Suicide.
What about Friday Night.”

[Niloofar zarif]

صحنه سازی ها و توصیفات بسیار جذاب بودن که با لحن مخصوص به وودی آلن که اون هم جذابیت خاص خودش رو داره همراه شده بود. شاید محتوای
داستان بسیار غنی نبود و نکته اخلاقی یا آموزنده و قابل توجه خاصی نداشت، اما خوندنش لذت بخش و مفرح بود.

[Vaastray · Rating 4 out of 5]

بابت ترجمه یخوب این کتاب از اقای رجبی تشکر میکنم... اینکه یک مطلب طنز در زبان بیگانه رو ترجمه کنی و طنز بمونه کار راحتی نیست. من واقعا خیلی با این کتاب خندیدم :))) مرسی
اما نمایشنامه ی اول نسبت به دومی خیلی بهتر و خنده دار تر بود

[Kaethe · Rating 3 out of 5]

I still really liked Allen when I read this, but the play didn't wow me.

[Amene · Rating 3 out of 5]

دونمایشنامه ی عالی از وودی،اولی درباب افکار و حالات فردی در مقابل مسایلی مثل طلاق یا ارتباط مجدد و دومی هجویه ای بر سیاست های خارجی آمریکا در دوران جنگ سرد.

[Nina · Rating 2 out of 5]

خیلی خوب بودن. دوباره شوخی های وودی آلن و یکسری وضعیتِ غیرعادی که پشت سر هم ردیف میشه. شخصیت اصلی باید راه حلی پیدا کنه ولی اونقدر دست و پاچلفتی و گیجه (ولی دوست داشتنی) که هی اوضاع رو بدتر میکنه ولی آخرش...

دوباره اون آهنگو بزن سم (دیالوگ فیلم کازابلانکا): سه تا شخصیت اصلی و یه ایده ی تقریبا تکراریِ معمولی که با شیوه ی وودی آلن باهاش روبرو میشیم. مردی که زنش گذاشته رفته و دوستاش دارن تلاش میکنن یه دوست دختر براش پیدا کنن اما این خودش عاشقِ... :)

از این آب ننوشید: یه نمایشِ شلوغ پلوغ با هفت هشت تا بازیگر که تو سفارتِ آمریکا تو یکی از کشورهای اروپای شرقی میگذره. به شدت بامزه و عجیب غریب. ماجرای یه خانواده ی آمریکایی که اومدن مسافرت ولی کمونیست ها به جرم جاسوسی تعقیبشون کردن و اینام اومدن رسیدن به سفارت خونه. هیچ چیز خاصی نمیشه گفت فقط سرگرمیه و لذت بخش.

[Shirin]

نتونستم تا اخر بخونمش ولی شاید در اینده دوباره سعی کنم تمومش کنم نصفه و نیمه رها کردن کتابا بهم حس خوبی نمیده اصلن ....از اینکه نمایشنامه بود
خوشم نمیومد و هیچ هیجان و لذتی برام ایجاد نمیکرد :(

[Nathan Albright · Rating 4 out of 5]

It is easy to see how Woody Allen views himself (and other nebbish and guilty people like him) from this play.  I happened to randomly find this particular play in my library, and being at least mildly curious about Allen's work as a playwright (he also acted in the role of Allan, the play's notes helpfully tell me, when it was first performed on Broadway).  This play gratified my curiosity, even if it did not convince me that the author was as good a person as the play seemed to make himself out to be.  The play was helpful, though, in demonstrating his own view of how marriages fall apart and what kind of person he sees himself, and it is probably for the best that he writes and makes films now and does not act in them, as his shtick is a consistent one that does not wear well into old age.  Be that as it may, the author does a good job in portraying a middle-aged person struggling with loneliness and isolation and the problems of love, and manages to be generally if not entirely sympathetic, which is impressive given the negative perspective many readers are likely to have about Woody Allen.

This is a romantic comedy in three acts, the first act of which is divided into two scenes.  In fact, it is a play that barely qualifies as a comedy, and that largely thanks to the brief third act.  The play begins with a suitable set-up, as Allan, a nerdy movie reviewer, is left by his bored wife Nancy, who wants more action and doesn't find him to be attractive or exciting or fun anymore.  The next scene shows his friends Dick and Linda trying to help him find another woman, and it does not initially go well.  The second act has Allan struggling with his limited amount of women that he knows well and a brief affair that he has with Linda and then keeps quiet because Dick ends up needing Linda and not wanting to leave her after all.  Finally, after all of those false starts, Allan finds himself with a beautiful young new neighbor who loves his film writing, and the reader (or viewer) of this play can believe that there is at least some sort of love in store here.  Throughout the play, at least until the end, we also are privy to Allan's active imagination, which includes having Humphrey Bogart as an unlikely internal wingman.

How one feels about this play depends on several things.  For one, the author's moral worldview is definitely lacking.  He views adultery and fornication not as sins but rather as things that make one uncomfortable.  His lead character doesn't show a great deal of courage in trying to make a marriage work and tends to portray leaving partners as irrational.  The fact that timidity is the cause of relative morality more than moral courage is fortunate, but hardly common.  In reading this play, one can understand clearly that the author considers himself to be someone who is put upon and guilt-ridden, but he is not as moral as he thinks he is, and one can see that a neurotic and sex-obsessed person as Woody Allen appears to be in this play (and his work for movies) could very easily conduct a private relationship that he didn't want to be viewed as public in order to satisfy his lusts without causing a public furor, until it did.  Far from being an insignificant play from a writer whose film work is more known than his playwriting, this play helps to explain some of the complex issues that a writer faces in trying to turn his neuroses into comedy.

[Daniel · Rating 4 out of 5]

I can't believe I'd never read this, and I'm not sure I've ever seen the movie. However, I really liked the play.

Although much of this is dated fairly specifically to the 1960's/70's, the basic story and comedy still works.

It would be difficult to set this in modern day -- why would the attorney be constantly calling in to let his office know where to reach him -- just open up the cell phone. And yet, if he isn't constantly calling his office, the set-up that he ignores his wife is lost.

And of course, there's the discotheque. ... A 'discotheque'?!?!

The biggest challenge to staging this as a play, however, is finding a non-Woody Allen type to play a very Woody Allen character. Although this is such a typical vehicle for Allen, and it's hard to read without picture him in the role, the character really is any man with low self-esteem. Finding THAT, I think, is better than trying to play it as Woody Allen.

A rich comedy, steeped in the late 1960's, but worth reading/staging.

[Chrissie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Play/screenplay of one of Woody's best movies, filmed in 1972 after being on the stage.
The film was directed by Herbert Ross, who directed the play, but it feels very much like
a Woody Allen film, from that early period.
This is one of the films that starts to show more of Woody's interior world - and, of course,
this book is the source of that inner exposition that Woody became known for.
This book is a good place to start, but I would say watch the film first, then see from the book
how it translated.
Pure Woody. You can see from his body of work, year after year, that he believes in humanity and
the flaws in all of us, our desperate lives in search of love and some kind of stability.
I can see clearly from Woody's 55+ years of writing and making films that he is uniquely and wholeheartedly devoted to the improvement and understanding of the human condition, despite his self-avowed misanthropy and despite the efforts of angry lunatics to discredit him.
Woody is a uniquely affecting and uniquely insightful writer, filmmaker, and voice.

[Alastair Craig · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a person, Woody Allen has done some ghastly things. As the author of this particular story, though, he once helped me come to terms with a life-altering anxiety disorder. His introspection normalised my newfound neuroses. His characters told me I was not alone in a time I felt it the most.

Revisiting the original play a few years on, older, wiser and mercifully more at home in my own mind, the sweetness and sincerity of my favourite lines still strike as hard and as true as ever.

We can only follow our own personal moral compass when it comes to separating the art from the artist. Mine is pointed firmly toward this play as something transcendently pure and magnetic and wonderful.

[Melda Dinçel · Rating 4 out of 5]

It is a really short play, easy and really fun to read without a break. Throughout the reading, the play reminded me of his scenes from his movies. Particularly his scenes. It is basically Allen as the author, director and most of the time character within character. If you are familiar with Allen, you would understand my comment about this particular play: Typical Woody Allen work.

[Cathi · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is one of Woody Allen's earliest plays, and it's a goodie. The way he weaves Humphrey Bogart's coolness and nuggets of wisdom about women and romance into the story of a guy who is clueless about relationships is a lot of fun. Delightful!

[Will · Rating 4 out of 5]

A dated but very funny play about losing your mind after losing your wife. Classic Woody.

[Brittany Jackson · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was ok - again not sure what I think about the ending.

[Arghavan · Rating 4 out of 5]

و با تشکر از روزهای خسته‌ی مونده‌به‌شروع‌دانشگاه، که باعث شدن دوباره به وودی آلن رو بیارم.

[Amy Wolf · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very funny play about a nebbish who enlists the help of Bogie to augment his romantic life. By the inimitable Woody Allen!