Starstruck: The Play

Starstruck

by Elaine Lee

Science fiction plays
Librettos

by Elaine Lee, Susan Norfleet Lee and Dale Place ; with drawings, sets and costumes by Michael Kaluta.

8 pages of plates + illustrations, some colour

Genres: Plays, Fiction, Science Fiction, Comics

104 pages, Paperback

First published March 1, 1985

Reviews

[Joe Archer · Rating 3 out of 5]

Plays are meant to be watched, not read, but I’m sure this was a lot of fun onstage. I picked this up from CPL in preparation for the new season of Dimension 20! Can’t wait to see what they do with this chaotic universe.

[David Miller · Rating 4 out of 5]

This original iteration of Starstruck is a massive, manic laser blast of independent theater energy in the space of a two-act play. One must imagine it performed with cheesy effects on a shoestring budget, evocative of a science fiction mode that abounds in drama and revels in the complete abandonment of disbelief.

The characters are all drawn from very familiar types, but the boldness of its feminist framing and the absurdity of the situation make the whole experience fresh. It's something like an earnest, romantic take on The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, capable of winking at conventions while endorsing the sheer fun of them. It's an excellent starting point for getting into this world.

[Chris · Rating 4 out of 5]

Of course I decided I should read this play before I delved into the cult classic comic books that spun off from it. Let's start with that I enjoyed it, but with one reservation. It is a satire of and homage to science fiction using the best and worst sci-fi tropes from the 1930s through Star Wars. Notably and famously, Elaine Lee flips the script for almost the whole of sci-fi genre (up the time she wrote this) by centering women in the main roles, and they do the heroic derring-do generally reserved only for men. While her science fiction is refreshingly inventive, the slapstick comedy is awkward, thus knocking off a star for me. I look forward to reading the comics now!

[Callum · Rating 4 out of 5]

I got kind of confused with all the characters at certain times but it was really fun especially since I rarely enjoy sci-fi

[Kaethe · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun. It has a very 80s feel to it, though I can't explain why I feel that way.

Library copy

[row · Rating 4 out of 5]

BRUCILLA: (Jumps in air) AW-RIGHT!!!
GALATIA 9: Remember Bru, diplomacy and control.
BRUCILLA: (Small arm pump) Aw-right.

could’ve used more (aka any) lesbians but it was a very fun time anyway !!

[Ian · Rating 4 out of 5]

I can't imagine the stagecraft needed to pull this off.

[Lia Koering · Rating 5 out of 5]

might fuck around and direct this next semester who’s to say