Helpful Score: 1
Not being an avid reader or attender of stage plays, I had never heard of Christopher Durang until five or six years ago, when I stumbled upon a cable-produced adaptation of his play "Sister Mary Ignatius Explains It All for You." Irreverent humor lampooning religious belief systems is a favorite genre of mine, along with gun-wielding nuns, so I wasted no time in picking up this collection of short plays.
While Durang is basically a humorist, many of his plays involve the lampooning of other plays. This can be a detriment to a reader who, like me, is unable to pick out the subtle stabs at the set design and dialog patterns of other well known playwrites. But it is a minor stumbling block, and not a mjor obstacle to enjoy Durang's offbeat sense of humor.
If you aren't hip to the stage scene, but still enjoy humor with an edge, do what I did. Pick up this collection for "Sister Mary Ignatius Explains It All for You", then peruse the rest with an open mind.
While Durang is basically a humorist, many of his plays involve the lampooning of other plays. This can be a detriment to a reader who, like me, is unable to pick out the subtle stabs at the set design and dialog patterns of other well known playwrites. But it is a minor stumbling block, and not a mjor obstacle to enjoy Durang's offbeat sense of humor.
If you aren't hip to the stage scene, but still enjoy humor with an edge, do what I did. Pick up this collection for "Sister Mary Ignatius Explains It All for You", then peruse the rest with an open mind.
Julien C. (jaimelesmaths) reviewed 27 Short Plays (Contemporary Playwrights Series) on + 54 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 1
Mixed bag collection of one-acts from a very funny playwright. Personal favorites include "For Whom the Southern Belle Tolls," "DMV Tyrant," "The Hardy Boys and the Mystery of Where Babies Come From," "Sister Mary Ignacious Explains It All For You," and "The Actor's Nightmare." If you want to direct a play, this will give you a good selection, though some will work much better than others.
Jenny K. (jmk816) reviewed 27 Short Plays (Contemporary Playwrights Series) on + 6 more book reviews
I love the plays in this book, my main reason for getting it was "The Hardy Boys and the Mystery of Where Babies Come From" which is as hilarious as it sounds. As I read through the rest of the book, I came across many short plays that I have seen or been in and truly enjoyed that I had no idea Durang wrote! Not only does this book contain many amazing plays but also reflections from Durang which are quite insightful and enjoyable to read.
