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PLEASURE PRINCIPLE
80 pages, Paperback
First published October 24, 1974
1 person want to read
About the author
Snoo Wilson
24 books1 followerSnoo Wilson (born Andrew James Wilson) was a playwright, screenwriter, novelist and director who presented an apologia for Aleister Crowley in the TV series 'Without Walls.' He was a founder of the experimental Portable Theatre Company, and served as dramaturge to the Royal Shakespeare Company.
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
September 9, 2019
Though first performed in 1973, The Pleasure Principal has the 1960s at it's heart. I can feel the pulse of sexual liberation coursing through it's characters--human or otherwise.
But what makes this play is how the unexpected rises up, surprises us, amuses us, and leaves us with both entertainment and instruction. Throughout his career as a playwright, Wilson constantly challenged his audience to imagine the play as something more than an empirically-based series of events. For Wilson the stage was a setting for imagining. Sometimes he pushed his surreal staging beyond what an audience could accept, but he was willing to sacrifice audience share in pursuit of his vision.
In the case of The Pleasure Principal, he performs magical pirouettes with his characters, who explore money, sex, class and love.
I don't wish to give away the plot or how he messes with an audiences expectation, but I will say this: Wilson's 'eccentric' vision of the world makes him one of the more fascinating playwrights I've ever read, and if I get a chance to peruse more of his entertaining work, I will.
I've read this play again because Snoo was somewhere between acquaintance and friend, he has since died, and I haven't read his work in 30 years. I understand much better what he's trying to do now and better appreciate his singular vision. It is unique and fascinating (and at times) very funny with a often cleverly disguised viewpoint on the matters his characters are bringing alive.
But what makes this play is how the unexpected rises up, surprises us, amuses us, and leaves us with both entertainment and instruction. Throughout his career as a playwright, Wilson constantly challenged his audience to imagine the play as something more than an empirically-based series of events. For Wilson the stage was a setting for imagining. Sometimes he pushed his surreal staging beyond what an audience could accept, but he was willing to sacrifice audience share in pursuit of his vision.
In the case of The Pleasure Principal, he performs magical pirouettes with his characters, who explore money, sex, class and love.
I don't wish to give away the plot or how he messes with an audiences expectation, but I will say this: Wilson's 'eccentric' vision of the world makes him one of the more fascinating playwrights I've ever read, and if I get a chance to peruse more of his entertaining work, I will.
I've read this play again because Snoo was somewhere between acquaintance and friend, he has since died, and I haven't read his work in 30 years. I understand much better what he's trying to do now and better appreciate his singular vision. It is unique and fascinating (and at times) very funny with a often cleverly disguised viewpoint on the matters his characters are bringing alive.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews