All About Books discussion

A place for people to suggest plays to be read as group plays as some (unspecified) time in the future.

I am starting this thread now as I am beginning to ponder next year's selection. I have been in the mood for Irish comedies recently so I was thinking one play for next year might be She Stoops to Conquer or The Rivals. I saw Gill & Jenny recommended Brian Friel which might be an interesting contrast.

Dancing at Lughnasa could be a good one to do, Leslie, I think there is a film of it, although I think Translations is brilliant.

I might take a leaf out of your book Gill & make the seasonal drama a theme rather than a specific play. So one possible theme would be Irish plays :)

Another one I'd thought of was ancient and modern versions but the only one I can think of isAntigone and Antigone.

Gill wrote: "Another one I'd thought of was ancient and modern versions but the only one I can think of isAntigone and Antigone."

Kassandra and Medea both have interesting modern versions, however the only ones I can think of are in novel form. (Christa Wolf) But I really like the idea. Maybe it would still work though, as the interest would be the transformation of drama.

In terms of playwrights I definitely second Gill's suggestion of Brian Friel, others that come to mind would be nobel prize laureate Wole Soyinka, Yasmina Reza (apparently most staged playwright in Europe), Tennessee Williams or anything by Tony Kushner, his Angels in America: A Gay Fantasia on National Themes is brilliant.

Gill wrote: "Another one I'd thought of was ancient and modern versions but the only one I can think of is Antigone and Antigone."

I bet that there are some modernized Shakespeare that would work (like Romeo and Juliet & West Side Story, only something not musical).

Jenny, I am thinking about trying to read more Nobel Laureates next year & Wole Soyinka was one of them I was looking at. Also, Belgian Maurice Maeterlinck...

Hamlet and Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead?

I understand what you are saying about themes, Leslie, but I do enjoy reading the same play as several others and having the discussion. Maybe there's a way of having a theme, but with one or two ' lead' plays to read and discuss?

Gill wrote: "Hamlet and Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead?

I understand what you are saying about themes, Leslie, but I do enjoy reading the same play as several others and having the discussi..."

A focus play so to speak? That's an idea. Right now I am just gathering ideas as there's still plenty of time before 2016.

I haven't been reading the plays this year and hope to join in next year. I'm unfamiliar with so many of the works in this genre.
I second Jenny's thoughts on Angels In America. It was brilliant.
I'm looking forward to next year's plays.

I like the idea of a theme, or a particular playwright to focus on. I'm lacking in my reading of plays so I'll be happy with anything.

If you go for Wole Soyinka Leslie, Death and the King's Horseman: A Play is brilliant I think - unique in many ways.

I do really like the idea of ancient plays & modern adaptions. I'm sure I've seen some of those, but I'll need to put on my thinking cap to recall. Some are loose adaptions I think.

Also, I echo Gill in wanting specific plays along with the theme. It generates more discussion when people are reading the same thing I think. Though I certainly do like Irish plays!

If you are looking at Irish plays, I love J.M. Synge. Riders to the Sea is depressing as hell but a beautiful, beautiful play. And his comedies are entertaining as well.

Seconding Death and the King's Horseman: A Play which I have been planning to read anyway.

About Irish plays, I know Yeats, our fall poet, wrote plays too. I haven't read any of them yet though.

Another suggestion re themes, Leslie: to have a particular country eg Greece, which would be great because of the long tradition of theatre or France, and have their plays as a theme, with a specific one as a lead play (sorry, forgot to check back, has there been a French play recently as a group read?)

Gill wrote: "Another suggestion re themes, Leslie: to have a particular country eg Greece, which would be great because of the long tradition of theatre or France, and have their plays as a theme, with a specif..."

I think we did one by Molière last year Gill :)

Greg wrote: "Gill wrote: "Another suggestion re themes, Leslie: to have a particular country eg Greece, which would be great because of the long tradition of theatre or France, and have their plays as a theme, ..."

We did do a Molière but there are plenty of other French plays & playwrights, including one I was considering for next year -- Art by Yasmina Reza. I am such a classics girl that I need to remember to include contemporary plays too :)

Leslie wrote: " including one I was considering for next year -- Art by Yasmina Reza. I am such a classics girl that I need to remember to include contemporary plays too :) ..."

This looks really good Leslie, and I haven't seen or read it. Definitely one I'd like to read!

Leslie wrote: "Greg wrote: "Gill wrote: "Another suggestion re themes, Leslie: to have a particular country eg Greece, which would be great because of the long tradition of theatre or France, and have their plays..."

'Art' is really good Leslie!

Jenny wrote: "Leslie wrote: "Greg wrote: "Gill wrote: "Another suggestion re themes, Leslie: to have a particular country eg Greece, which would be great because of the long tradition of theatre or France, and h..."

I saw it performed a few years ago & thought it was funny yet thought-provoking so hopefully good for discussion!

So here is what I am considering for the 2016 lineup -- each 3 month period will have a broad theme with one specific play as a focus.

Winter (Jan-March) -- theme: Irish plays; focus: Dancing at Lughnasa by Brian Friel

Spring (April-June) -- theme: modern retelling of classics; focus: Eurydice by Sarah Ruhl

Summer (July-Sep) -- theme: Nobel-winning playwrights; focus: The Lion and the Jewel by Wole Soyinka

Fall (Oct-Dec) -- theme: French plays; focus: Art by Yasmina Reza

I feel a bit strange not having any of my beloved classics as a focus but with this setup, it is easy to incorporate them into the themes.

Leslie, that's really impressive. I like the theme with a focus. Irish plays to start with; great!

Gill wrote: "Leslie, that's really impressive. I like the theme with a focus. Irish plays to start with; great!"

I hope that having both the broad & narrow will help encourage people to participate.

I think your plans look great, like you say, it keeps things both broad and narrow to suit all tastes.

Are you going to have two threads, one broad and one for the specific play, Leslie?

I plan on participating next year. My biggest hesitation in the past was lack of access to the plays but with a focus play and a broader theme, I think I can find something that will fit.
I'm looking forward to joining in.

Gill wrote: "Are you going to have two threads, one broad and one for the specific play, Leslie?"

I hadn't thought that far ahead yet Gill! What do you think - would it be better to keep it all together or have the focus play discussion be separate?

Leslie wrote: "Gill wrote: "Are you going to have two threads, one broad and one for the specific play, Leslie?"

I hadn't thought that far ahead yet Gill! What do you think - would it be better to keep it all to..."

I think separate would be better. I'm sure there will be enough discussion to keep both threads busy.

Love the idea and the line up Leslie!

Jenny wrote: "Love the idea and the line up Leslie!"

Thanks Jenny :)

Anyone with thoughts for next year - please share them here!

I saw a live streaming of The Deep Blue Sea last night. It was excellent. Maybe we could look at Terence Rattigan in some detail, maybe as part as a theme?

No ideas sorry, but I'll look forward to whatever is chosen :)

I'm always up for Shakespeare. Is anyone interested in reading an American playwright or two?

Gill wrote: "I saw a live streaming of The Deep Blue Sea last night. It was excellent. Maybe we could look at Terence Rattigan in some detail, maybe as part as a theme?"

I was unfamiliar with Rattigan's name but looking at his bio here, I see that he wrote Separate Tables, which was made into an excellent film. I wonder what would be a good theme for him?

Portia wrote: "I'm always up for Shakespeare. Is anyone interested in reading an American playwright or two?"

Shakespeare is probably a good idea for one season -- there are so many plays! Any suggestions on which one to select as the focus play?

Since we did an Irish & French theme this year, maybe we could do an American theme next year. Maybe with A Raisin in the Sun by Lorraine Hansberry as the focus play...

Leslie wrote: "Gill wrote: "I saw a live streaming of The Deep Blue Sea last night. It was excellent. Maybe we could look at Terence Rattigan in some detail, maybe as part as a them..."

He also wrote The Winslow Boy, the film of which is often repeated on to here. Maybe there could be a 'Play to Film' theme, and he could be the focus author ( instead of a specific play of his).

How about Eugene O'Neill ? "Long Day's Journey Into Night" or "The Ice Man Cometh";or one of his other plays.

Leslie wrote: "Gill wrote: "I saw a live streaming of The Deep Blue Sea last night. It was excellent. Maybe we could look at Terence Rattigan in some detail, maybe as part as a them..."

I think A Raisin in the Sun is a great choice!

I saw Tennessee Williams was suggested a while back. My problem with him would be picking one!

For Shakespeare, perhaps we should start by selecting a theme: History, Comedy, Tragedy, Problem. There are plenty to choose from in each group.