Almost an Evening

by Ethan Coen

Three satiric plays by Oscar-winning screenwriter Ethan Coen

Raising Arizona, Fargo, No Country for Old Men, Burn After Reading –the Coen brothers’ films are some of the most critically acclaimed and iconic of our time. Now, one half of the duo, Ethan Coen, adds playwriting to his eclectic bio. In these three short plays that ran to sold-out audiences Off-Broadway in 2008, the theme is hell–both on earth and in the hereafter.

In “Waiting,” a man faces an uncertain future in an uncertain location that seems to be some kind of waiting room. The anxiety and despair hark back to dramas of the fifties–Sartre, Beckett, Pinter.

“Four Benches” depicts an unlikely meeting in a steam room between a straight-talking Texan and an uptight Brit. Both men learn from the encounter, though only one survives it.

In “Debate,” the cantankerous god of the Old Testament roundly abuses the mealymouthed god of the New. His profanity and ill humor receive a startling comeuppance, and further reversals and changes of point of view lead to a denouement that is no more preposterous than anything else in the play.

Clever, provocative, and as engaging as the best fiction, these plays showcase yet another talent of one of our most celebrated contemporary writers.

Genres: Plays, Fiction, Drama, Theatre, Humor, Comedy

80 pages, Paperback

First published April 7, 2009

About the author

Joel Coen and Ethan Coen, known together professionally as the Coen brothers, are four-time Academy Award winning American filmmakers. For more than twenty years, the pair have written and directed numerous successful films, ranging from screwball comedies (O Brother, Where Art Thou?, Raising Arizona, The Hudsucker Proxy) to film noir (Miller's Crossing, Blood Simple, The Man Who Wasn't There, No Country for Old Men), to movies where genres blur together (Fargo, The Big Lebowski, and Barton Fink). The brothers write, direct and produce their films jointly, although until recently Joel received sole credit for directing and Ethan for producing. They often alternate top billing for their screenplays while sharing film credits for editor under the alias Roderick Jaynes. They are known in the film business as "the two-headed director", as they share such a similar vision of what their films are to be that actors say that they can approach either brother with a question and get the same answer.

Reviews

[Greg Talbot · Rating 3 out of 5]

“It's a fool that looks for logic in the chambers of the human heart.”
― Joel Coen, O Brother, Where Art Thou?

Ethan Coen, making his broadway debut, with several absurd sketches that question the benevolence and existence of an Almighty power. Throughout his career with writer/director with brother Joel Coen, the duo have made ridiculously brilliant films that ponder ethical questions in an amoral universe. With “No Country For Old Men”, the the Western myth of justice from mighty-minded saviors is reduced to an irrational world of escalating violence without moral reckoning. In their brilliant retelling of the Job story, set in 1950s midwest suburbia, the Coens toy with the idea of God’s presence and purpose when his perceived invisible hand plays comically retributive.

Here Coen writes three interesting and imaginative pieces. “Waiting” a comical farcial piece that seems inspired by Beckett’s purgatory in “Waiting for Godot” is quick-witted, sharp and darkly funny.

“Four Benches” is the most interesting to me. A series of conversations in a sauna, the whirled pool of dialogue and identity where violence and connection seem to always be offered a possibilities. A series of shadowed conversations about ethics, trust, and being human is discussed. It’s strange..but it was visually really interesting to read.

“Debate” offers some meta conversation about God. The God of Justice. The God of Love. Their waring nature toward each other. The waring nature of man vs man in understanding and appealing to this God. All of this wrapped up as a play within a play..possibly within another play. It’s intricately designed...comical with the crazed and commanding God behavior that could only come from a human writer with a playful and wry sense of the world.

As is so so often the case, it’s one thing to read, and another to see for a play. I imagine these would be very thoughtful and interesting pieces to see performed. Greatly enjoyed the risk and strange places Ethan Coen was willing to take the work. And if he doesn’t continue with theater, I would place a strong bet that the world of film will always be there for him and Joel.

[Jen · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book was a collection of three plays, written by Ethan Cohen of movie fame. It was pretty well done. Both Jake and I enjoyed the first play more than the other two but they were all good. It'd been awhile since we'd read a play together and it made me want to do so more.

The three offerings are "Waiting", "Four Benches" and "Debate". The first one depicted a guy who'd been sent to hell but never told. What was hell? A waiting room...it was funny and well done.

"Four Benches", I don't really remember so it couldn't have been that fantastic. Oh, yeah, a play between a Texan and a Brit. Funny because we're Texans now but mostly underwhelming.

"Debate" was a debate between the Old Testament fire and brimstone God and the New Testament, a much more New Agey type God. Interesting, funny, but not as much so as the first. Overall enjoyable but meh.

What made me pick this book up? Jacoby got it for me for Valentine's day. We love reading plays together.

What was the best part of the book? "Waiting" was just too funny.

What was the part I liked least? "Four Benches" was a little loose. Not exceptionally well put together.

Favorite character: NA

Least favorite character: NA

Rereadable: Meh, probably not. Maybe "Waiting"

Rating: 2. 3 for Waiting.

[Carla · Rating 4 out of 5]

I didn't know Ethan Coen had written a book. This is three plays however, that sold out on Broadway in 2008. Quirky, satirical, engaging. Real quick read.

[kayla michelle pisano ✮ · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you like the show The Good Place and have a messed up sense of humor, but are not afraid of the disturbing, Almost An Evening contains the plays for you. I liked this a lot! While the book is comprised of three different one-act plays (all by the same author) they all have a common theme, while they do not need to be performed together nor are they "related." They all, however, deal with the concept of life and death, and religion. All of the plays also take place in abstract locations (at least for most of the play. i.e. purgatory, afterlife, wherever we consider God to be in order to debate God, etc.)
I read this because I had seen the "Debate" God Who Judges monologue performed, and absolutely loved it. It was hysterical. But I actually think "Waiting" was my favorite of the three, followed by "Debate" and then my least favorite, "Four Benches." I really did not understand it on my first read, especially following Waiting which melted into my eyes as I read the text.
The feel of the playwriting style is very cynical, deadpan, crass, and satirical. Very "dark humor," "meta," borderline offensive/insensitive but considering the plays were published the same year Glee premiered, that isn't too surprising and it's not unfixable nor a crime. But the style of the humor (aside from some things I'd personally edit) is what I love about the plays. If I could rate the plays individually I'd give Waiting 5/5 and Debate a 4/5. I'm still not sure about Four Benches because I just didn't get it, but I don't think that made it bad. I just... don't get it. And it was nowhere near as enticing and enthralling as the other two personally. Maybe I need to take another look or see it performed.

[Mary · Rating 3 out of 5]

First play was decent, but I could see where it was going way ahead of time. Second one I didn't really care about. I truly enjoyed the third and would love to see it performed, meta as it was.

In the foreword, Ethan Coen explains that the title of this collection comes from overhearing a theatergoer's comment that the performance of these three plays had comprised "not even almost an evening." I can see where that person was coming from.

[Jordan Muschler · Rating 3 out of 5]

Would be interested to direct ' Waiting' or 'Debate,' as both feel like worthy short plays with Ethan's playful, character-defined sense of humor. Despite Ethan's masterful past writings, there are elements of first play syndrome in this piece, mainly given how much it leans into meta-theatrical devices; however, even those elements feel in conversation with larger ideas, and moments consistently break through and surprise.

[Karim Anani · Rating 4 out of 5]

I wasn't surprised that Almost an Evening is compelling; it's Ethan Coen. Each of the three plays is different, each good. I'd love to see a production, especially for the last one; there'd be a pre-CGI movie magic-like awe in seeing something like that pulled off.

[Brandon Ogin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Waiting - 4
Four Benches - 1
Debate - 3

[Andrew · Rating 2 out of 5]

Feels like a series of half-finished sketches.

[Brian · Rating 3 out of 5]

Honestly, I feel bad giving this a lower rating because I generally adore Coen's work. I do have a feeling these three plays would be much better performed than read.

[David Records · Rating 2 out of 5]

First story was funny but forgettable. The second two I've already forgotten.

[Livietta · Rating 3 out of 5]

Il primo è delizioso, il secondo geniale, il terzo invecchiato meno bene dei precedenti. In compenso, mi è tornata voglia di leggere teatro, grande passione adolescenziale. E di recuperare anche altro di Ethan Cohen.

[Steven · Rating 3 out of 5]

One of the descriptions used 'allegorical' to describe these pieces, so I instantly pictured the allegorical prologue to A Serious Man. None of the three pieces are quite as snappy, polished, or charming as that, but they're fun. I was quite disappointed by the first sketch, but the next two were better.

1) Waiting: This instantly reminded me of the Kafka allegory from the Trial, of the guy waiting outside the door of the law. It also has a Python/ Douglas Adams/ Twilight Zone feel to it. It was easy to guess where it was going, and didn't deliver on any memorable characters or dialogue.

2) Four Benches: Much better. Reminded me a bit of Burn After Reading, with the humorous human element amidst high-stakes espionage. Fun, cute and surprising.

3) Debate: Hilarious - this is the star of the collection for me. Pythonesque in every way. I would love to have been there while this was performed.

[Adam · Rating 3 out of 5]

Three short and funny--but not in any way significant--plays. The first two are worth reading, especially considering their length; the third is a little less so. “Waiting” is an existential pastiche with a very funny twist ending. “Four Benches” is a bit more complex and uses the espionage/thriller genre as a tool for making some bleak but humorous comments on “the human condition.” “Debate” is the most complex of the plays, and the most unsatisfying. It is irreverent, full of crass language, and will be offensive to some. I think I caught a large portion of the play’s intended meaning but also felt there was some larger, final connecting point I was missing. Maybe I would have found this point if I’d been motivated to read the play a second time, but I wasn’t, so I didn’t.

[Heyhansen · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 short plays made for a quick enjoyable read. The first, Waiting, is like a super trimmed down modernized version of No Exit by Sartre, with a dash of that Cohen humor. Good stuff. The 3rd, Debate, is a fun play within a play with some fun diatribes on both God archetypes and actors & theatergoers.

[tomlinton · Rating 1 out of 5]

Bought it because it was a Coen brother
and I've really liked
several of their films
But this is a nope
I'd be very surprised
if any of it becomes film

[Steven Pattison · Rating 4 out of 5]

Three extremely funny - one act plays by Ethan Coen (Coen brothers) - way better theater drama then the Les Mis or those stupid singing cats.

[Andrew · Rating 2 out of 5]

"Waiting" **
"Four Benches" **
"Debate" ***

[Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

I thought the stories would be similar to the Coen brothers movies, and they were in a way, but they were also more introspective than I expected.

[Farazzz · Rating 4 out of 5]

Waiting: 5 stars
Four Benches: 2 stars
Debate: 5 Stars
Overall:4 Stars

[Scott Berzon · Rating 3 out of 5]

Enjoyed Waiting and Debate more than Four Benches

[Jape Man · Rating 4 out of 5]

First and thus far only thing I've read on my nook. Breezy and fun.

[Justin · Rating 2 out of 5]

The first one may have been the best, and these had a loosely Coen feel to them. But nowhere near as impressive as the quotes on the dust jacket wanted to make you think.

[Sean L · Rating 3 out of 5]

It probably only took Ethan Coen "almost an evening" to write this short trio of one-act plays, but it's a fun read nevertheless and translates well to the page.

[Marta · Rating 3 out of 5]

"Waiting" and "Debate" are remarkably funny. I was positively impressed by Ethan Coen's theatrical writing. Recommended.

[Erik · Rating 2 out of 5]

Mildly amusing at best. The first is the funniest, but all of these just feel like quick sketches stretched a little too far. Nowhere near the heights of the Coen movies.

[E7boehm · Rating 4 out of 5]

First and last plays are good and witty. Good and sarcastic about god hell and religion.

[Matt · Rating 4 out of 5]

"THE GREETER-GUY IS KICKING GOD IN THE ASS!"