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Filthy Talk for Troubled Times and Other Plays
Neil LaBute burst onto the American theater scene in 1989 with his controversial debut work Filthy Talk for Troubled Times. Set in a barroom in Anytown USA and populated by a series of everymen (and two beleaguered everywomen), this series of frank exchanges explores the innumerable varieties of American intolerance. A unique snapshot of the times, the play — seldom allowed production by the author since — provides a compelling look at the early thinking and evolution of one of our great theater artists.
Also in this collection is a series of new, short works, some never before produced. They include “The New Testament,” a showbiz satire that takes a close look at the perils of color-blind casting, and “The Furies,” in which a woman helps navigate her brother’s breakup with his out-and-then-perhaps, in-the-closet-again lover.
Also in this collection is a series of new, short works, some never before produced. They include “The New Testament,” a showbiz satire that takes a close look at the perils of color-blind casting, and “The Furies,” in which a woman helps navigate her brother’s breakup with his out-and-then-perhaps, in-the-closet-again lover.
144 pages, Paperback
First published June 10, 2010
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About the author
Neil LaBute
83 books120 followersNeil LaBute is an American film director, screenwriter and playwright.
Born in Detroit, Michigan, LaBute was raised in Spokane, Washington. He studied theater at Brigham Young University (BYU), where he joined The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. At BYU he also met actor Aaron Eckhart, who would later play leading roles in several of his films. He produced a number of plays that pushed the envelope of what was acceptable at the conservative religious university, some of which were shut down after their premieres. LaBute also did graduate work at the University of Kansas, New York University, and the Royal Academy of London.
In 1993 he returned to Brigham Young University to premier his play In the Company of Men, for which he received an award from the Association for Mormon Letters. He taught drama and film at IPFW in Fort Wayne, Indiana in the early 1990s where he adapted and filmed the play, shot over two weeks and costing $25,000, beginning his career as a film director. The film won the Filmmakers Trophy at the Sundance Film Festival, and major awards and nominations at the Deauville Film Festival, the Independent Spirit Awards, the Thessaloniki Film Festival, the Society of Texas Film Critics Awards and the New York Film Critics Circle.
LaBute has received high praise from critics for his edgy and unsettling portrayals of human relationships. In the Company of Men portrays two misogynist businessmen (one played by Eckhart) cruelly plotting to romance and emotionally destroy a deaf woman. His next film Your Friends & Neighbors (1998), with an ensemble cast including Eckhart and Ben Stiller, was a shockingly honest portrayal of the sex lives of three suburban couples. In 2000 he wrote an off-Broadway play entitled Bash: Latter-Day Plays, a set of three short plays (Iphigenia in orem, A gaggle of saints, and Medea redux) depicting essentially good Latter-day Saints doing disturbing and violent things. One of the plays was a much-talked-about one-person performance by Calista Flockhart. This play resulted in his being disfellowshipped from the LDS Church. He has since formally left the LDS Church.
LaBute's 2002 play The Mercy Seat was one of the first major theatrical responses to the September 11, 2001 attacks. Set on September 12, it concerns a man who worked at the World Trade Center but was away from the office during the attack — with his mistress. Expecting that his family believes that he was killed in the towers' collapse, he contemplates using the tragedy to run away and start a new life with his lover. Starring Liev Schreiber and Sigourney Weaver, the play was a commercial and critical success.
LaBute's latest film is The Wicker Man, an American version of a British cult classic. His first horror film, it starred Nicolas Cage and Ellen Burstyn and was released on September 1, 2006 by Warner Bros. Pictures to scathing critical reviews and mediocre box office.
He is working with producer Gail Mutrux on the screen adaptation of The Danish Girl by David Ebershoff.
Born in Detroit, Michigan, LaBute was raised in Spokane, Washington. He studied theater at Brigham Young University (BYU), where he joined The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. At BYU he also met actor Aaron Eckhart, who would later play leading roles in several of his films. He produced a number of plays that pushed the envelope of what was acceptable at the conservative religious university, some of which were shut down after their premieres. LaBute also did graduate work at the University of Kansas, New York University, and the Royal Academy of London.
In 1993 he returned to Brigham Young University to premier his play In the Company of Men, for which he received an award from the Association for Mormon Letters. He taught drama and film at IPFW in Fort Wayne, Indiana in the early 1990s where he adapted and filmed the play, shot over two weeks and costing $25,000, beginning his career as a film director. The film won the Filmmakers Trophy at the Sundance Film Festival, and major awards and nominations at the Deauville Film Festival, the Independent Spirit Awards, the Thessaloniki Film Festival, the Society of Texas Film Critics Awards and the New York Film Critics Circle.
LaBute has received high praise from critics for his edgy and unsettling portrayals of human relationships. In the Company of Men portrays two misogynist businessmen (one played by Eckhart) cruelly plotting to romance and emotionally destroy a deaf woman. His next film Your Friends & Neighbors (1998), with an ensemble cast including Eckhart and Ben Stiller, was a shockingly honest portrayal of the sex lives of three suburban couples. In 2000 he wrote an off-Broadway play entitled Bash: Latter-Day Plays, a set of three short plays (Iphigenia in orem, A gaggle of saints, and Medea redux) depicting essentially good Latter-day Saints doing disturbing and violent things. One of the plays was a much-talked-about one-person performance by Calista Flockhart. This play resulted in his being disfellowshipped from the LDS Church. He has since formally left the LDS Church.
LaBute's 2002 play The Mercy Seat was one of the first major theatrical responses to the September 11, 2001 attacks. Set on September 12, it concerns a man who worked at the World Trade Center but was away from the office during the attack — with his mistress. Expecting that his family believes that he was killed in the towers' collapse, he contemplates using the tragedy to run away and start a new life with his lover. Starring Liev Schreiber and Sigourney Weaver, the play was a commercial and critical success.
LaBute's latest film is The Wicker Man, an American version of a British cult classic. His first horror film, it starred Nicolas Cage and Ellen Burstyn and was released on September 1, 2006 by Warner Bros. Pictures to scathing critical reviews and mediocre box office.
He is working with producer Gail Mutrux on the screen adaptation of The Danish Girl by David Ebershoff.
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
October 11, 2011
I finally checked this out a second time- I really like Neil LaBute's writing. If watching In the Company of Men made you squirm then possibly sit this one out.
September 25, 2020
If you rate this higher than 2 stars, experts say you’re a cis white man.
June 14, 2021
What a shame
I find this playwright to be very skilled and moving. I’ve seem a number of his film scripts and know what he is capable of. My problem with this collection of short plays is I had no characters to like. Everyone was a horrid repulsive person. The males in this book all make me want to gag, and the representation of women was not much better. When there are no redeeming qualities, it makes for a painful read.
I find this playwright to be very skilled and moving. I’ve seem a number of his film scripts and know what he is capable of. My problem with this collection of short plays is I had no characters to like. Everyone was a horrid repulsive person. The males in this book all make me want to gag, and the representation of women was not much better. When there are no redeeming qualities, it makes for a painful read.
September 16, 2016
First time reading LaBute and I think he has great talent with dialogue & imaginative stories - you can see tell by his writing that one of his inspirations is Mamet. Will definitely read his other works - curious about his full-length plays.
Filthy Talk for Troubled Times - 4.5 stars - very funny but will be offensive to some - vulgar language, comments, etc, the title is very appropriate.
The New Testament - 5 - very funny, so true re: casting theatre
I Love This Game - 3.5 - monologue - look at what happens when a father makes inappropriate remark about another father's son during a baseball game
Romance - 4 - interesting concept because can be played in many ways, switching genders etc.
The Furies - 4.5 - an unexpected ending.
The War on Terror - 4 - interesting monologue. Love the switch from performing to confronting her stalker...
Helter Skelter - 4.5 - shocking end - wish they hadn't spoiled it by including notes about how to do the end of show's effect in the production notes on first page because I anticipated something happening and guessed what it might be and I was right.
Filthy Talk for Troubled Times - 4.5 stars - very funny but will be offensive to some - vulgar language, comments, etc, the title is very appropriate.
The New Testament - 5 - very funny, so true re: casting theatre
I Love This Game - 3.5 - monologue - look at what happens when a father makes inappropriate remark about another father's son during a baseball game
Romance - 4 - interesting concept because can be played in many ways, switching genders etc.
The Furies - 4.5 - an unexpected ending.
The War on Terror - 4 - interesting monologue. Love the switch from performing to confronting her stalker...
Helter Skelter - 4.5 - shocking end - wish they hadn't spoiled it by including notes about how to do the end of show's effect in the production notes on first page because I anticipated something happening and guessed what it might be and I was right.
June 29, 2013
A brutal, funny and amazing set of plays. Several are little more than scenes between unknown characters, but they are filled with emotions, usually unpleasant and ugly ones. Sometimes a difficult read because of the range of difficult emotions. The use of language intensely brings out the interior torments of the characters.
July 28, 2019
these one act plays mostly about about sex, race and the opposite sex feature some rather uncouth people and crass dialogue. But then if you've seen a Neil labute play or movie then you won't be shocked by the vulgar language and unlikeable characters at all.
May 27, 2012
One of those collections by Neil that made me verbally laugh out of sheer uncomfortableness. Never before has Neil put out a collection of such poignancy, surprising sexiness, and brutal social commentary all in one package. And let us not forget the twists.
Must read. Do not skip.
Must read. Do not skip.
December 1, 2011
Definitely the darkest from Mister Dark. The ending of the final play actually made me nauseous.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews