Sam Trott > Recent Status Updates

One of my favorites. A play that should be staged today. The characters remind me of the Bunker family. Except Beatrice stands her ground and is more cold than Edith, but still accurate. I wonder if it inspired the show at all?

A very different style for miller but a very interesting one. The history is horrifying and Miller makes you feel trapped in the middle of the uncomfortable accusations.

Rage-bait, the play.

How in the hell did I ever rate this play 4 stars. My goodness. After the plays I’ve read in the last year… this one is really something. You truly can see it for the revolution it was. The kind of play that you can see takes inspiration from O’Neill, but has a way of standing completely on its own. Magnificent and heartbreaking.

Absolutely brilliant. Compared to his first you can really tell the time he took with this one. What WWII story that kind of transcends that time too. Greedy business men willing to sacrifice their closest allies for a “the good”. Cannot wait to see how Miller’s style evolves over time.

Jeez I don’t know if this is a 4 or 5 star. What a great play. Absolutely delightful all the way through. Barney is kind of this strange Everyman hell bent on cheating on his wife. However he realizes he’s got it so damn good. One of the better aged NS plays I’ve read. I’d love to see this some day.

Oh it’s time I’m sure, but hard to fall in love with this script when “the apartment” which it is based on is a top ten all time movie for me. The music is alright, but kinda feels like they’re swinging for Sondheim but falling flat.

Alright I get it… 1960s culture 1960s attitude 1960s a lot of things… but this play ages like milk. Genuinely I don’t know if Broadway, out of all of NS plays would stage this. This poor woman cornered into working for her stalker cause she’s so behind on rent… yuck. This is like if someone wrote #metoo as a comedy. Yes there are funny moments but all are quickly juxtaposed by SA.

Absolutely splendid! I enjoyed this so much. Cannot wait to watch Jane Fonda and Robert Redford. This is such a great simple set up. I felt like the ending was strangely resolved but also fitting. I wonder how much Neil Simon inspired Michael Jacobs in the creation of Boy Meets world

An absolute delight so far. I’m horrified by this negative utopia, but more so uncomfortable with its proximity to our world. Imma finish this so quick

That was so insane… absolutely batshit crazy… would not have guessed that’s where the story goes. I mean… like wow. How sick and twisted but brilliant it all is.

Finally reading my copy of this which I originally bought back in my Sophomore year in high school when it first came out.

Just kidding… Achilles is RAGING NOW

Man this was not as simple as I thought it would be…. The Iliad is no joke. Like my goodness the bodies of people I barely fucking know just keep piling up.

I am loving the battle of the gods vs the battles of men. I’m also shocked how little Achilles really is in this epic. I mean it’s the rage of Achilles, but he’s still going… we’ll see what happens here at the end.

Enjoying the beginning of this poem. Glad I’m finally taking the leap

I still must read John Williams first book, but he does not consider that in his literature canon. However, I saw it fit to read Augustus first. This book may only be 300 pages, but like all his other works it is an epic. Incredible and devastating. By book iii you almost feel a brotherly kinship to octavious Caesar despite only reading his perspective at the very end. A masterwork.

Finally taking to this book. I love this history and John Williams usage of dramatic irony is brilliant. Can’t wait to keep it going.

I tried to Keep in mind that it’s a 1/11 cycle makes me understand the themes of “a tale of possessors self dis-possessed”. like all the great EO plays… there’s PLENTY OF DRINKING!!
I loved the characters, really and truly, but what really throws me off is how the whole thing wraps up. I know EO would have notes in rehearsal. HOWEVER, absolutely fantastic in how specifically it captures class.

Well the melodrama is REALLY bleeding through with this one… swing and a miss for me. I loved it up until ACT 4 where it just got way too on the nose. Religion is not EO’s forte

Brilliant and perfectly serene. The fact that this was a period piece when written makes it even better. I read this when I was the same age as Richard I think I would have called this my favorite play. Because I was Richard at 17, just trying to break free, but having no clue how to do it. Certainly favorite EO play I’ve read so far.

Real tough read. My brain was going loopy loops. Incredible narrative though. I’m curious why he decided to make a it a series.

Taking a while on this one too. I believe I have consumed way too much tech non fiction that I’m a little burnt on having to read repeat history, but now I’m getting to the new stuff for me.

So incredibly helpful and fun to pair with the podcast

Wow taking me a bit. This is a book I really have to sit down for but I don’t make time to engage with it. Plays must be written!!

Enjoying it thoroughly!

I want to perform this some day. I really love it. Absolutely fantastic and left me with many many many things to think about.

Oh no I was really excited for Ivy… now I’m a little scared. This play is awesome! Real mean people and sad life choices but I’m enjoying it

Oh great that’s nice and ominous…

This is such an interesting play. And likely a very formative play for O’Neill… the sea and personifying it so clearly. The language is really fun to work your brain around too.

Didn’t think I’d be a fan of this but I really enjoyed it. Can’t say I agree with the ending but at least Anna didn’t shoot herself which was probably the cliche of the day.

Surprised how much I’m enjoying this. It’s dense in language but that’s what I’m finding so engaging. Especially scenes with Mat Burke and Chris Christophersob. Oh boy changing dialects left and right

Oh man that one hurt. I really would love to see this stages. I’m kind of in love with the written inner thoughts. It’s a very simple plot which feels incredibly full of life.

Yeah… no this is definitely the strangest one I’ve read… nothing like sex at the… cat party