Plays 1: Other People / Where Do We Live / The Coming World / Dying City

by Christopher Shinn

A first volume of four plays from the Amercian playwright whose play Dying City was a critical and popular success at the Royal Court Theatre in May 2006. * Other People is set in New York among a twenty-something generation whose lives and hopes are blighted by disillusionment born of affluence and impotence in the face of the unknown. The play premiered in March 2000. * Where Do We Live, set in a post-September 11 world, asks to what extent New York's liberal multicultural society is under threat and how much we should care about the state in which our neighbours live. * The Coming World moves from Shinn's usual Manhattan environment to the coast of New England, where Dora is persuaded, against her better judgement, to help her ex, Ed, in a desperate attempt to escape from spiralling debt. Produced at the Soho Theatre in 2001. * Dying City shifts between 2004 and 2005 - the eve of one brother's departure for Iraq and the day that his twin brother visits his now widowed sister-in-law. The play premiered at the Royal Court Theatre in May 2006 to great critical acclaim. The books also features an introduction by the author.

Genres: Plays

288 pages, Paperback

First published June 13, 2013

About the author

Christopher Shinn is the author of Dying City (Pulitzer Prize finalist), Where Do We Live (Obie in Playwriting), Now or Later (Evening Standard Theater Award for Best Play shortlist), and Four. Most recently, his play Against premiered at the Almeida Theatre and his adaptation of Ödön von Horváth's Judgment Day premiered at Park Avenue Armory. Of his thirteen original plays, over half had their world premiere in England, with five at the Royal Court. Fellowships include the Guggenheim (2005), the Radcliffe (2019), and the Cullman (2020). His plays are published by Methuen and he teaches playwriting at the New School.

Reviews

[Charlie Lee · Rating 3 out of 5]

Quite a political writer, who seems very grounded in New York. Two of these plays deal with the relationship between twins and most of them are specifically focused around gay culture. These plays are well written, especially in terms of capturing rhythm, but they all feel a bit samey. To be honest, some of the politics are a bit trite and predictable too. I don't know that I would necessarily recommend this collection, as there are other political writers who do it better (I'm thinking particularly of Anders Lustgarten).

[Izzie Flynn · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was alright, got a little political which was its downfall in my opinion but still enjoyed the read through. I'd definitely still recommend it.