Anyone like reading play scripts?

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I love reading them! I made this thread so people who like to read play scripts can discuss them...

Currently, I finished reading Tony Kushner's Angels in America, and I have to say that it is a mighty impressive work...I have to leave soon so I'll probably return to write more about it...I'm definitey going to watch the film from HBO. It's a 2 DVD film that runs for 6 hours so I have to make plans to fit it into my schedule...

angels in america on dvd is awesome!

if i read a play script i have to actually act it out. we just finished reading a play called broadway bound in class and there were so many droners. "Oh, look it's mom...come on, everybody. ow, that hurt." that's how they read. it was very annoying.

do you mean monotone voice by droning? In that case could it be possible that some of them had AS?....Anyway I am interested in acting on stage...but I have a lot to work on especially because of my AS...I would also prefer small amateur stages...since I am kinda shy as well..

no, i mean that they don't care what they're reading. it's just something that they have to do.

i couldn't be an actor...especially if i was performing in front of a big audience. this would be my face when i saw all of those people waiting for me to move or at least say something:

my brother's somewhat of an entertainer, though. he was in plays in high school and attended NOCCA-http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Orleans_Center_for_Creative_Arts - during high school. after high school he was in about five plays. he's currently working at disney world for a short time. try hard and you'll most likely go far. that's what he taught me.

Thanks tinky, I appreciate it... Your face resonated with a lot of things in me...it made me laugh a happy laugh...

You don't see them - all you see are the lights (and your fellow actors). It's not really you up there either, so it's a lot easier than it might seem.

My wife used to love reading scripts. I never got into it; the directions got in the way, and conversation usually seemed so wrong. Still, I did act semi-professionally for a while, so I had to do it.

I love plays! I went to a book store and they had Shakspeare The Complete works. I wanted to by it but din't have the money.
I would love to be an actor. But most of all I would want to write plays and scripts. Can anyone recomend some awesome plays to read? I will have to check out Angels in America it sound awesome!

Posted: Tue Feb 27, 2007 8:32 pm Post subject: [play] Faith Healer by Michael Weller

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This was a play that left a strong impression on me. (I read it...haven't been able to see it yet.) It was sad, and there were many devices that intensified the sadness...however...maybe because recently I've been contemplating on one of the human existential conditions which is imperfection...I felt that the brokenness of the characters were bittersweet and lovely in a way...

(I'm deleting the other thread and moving its content here because this seems like where it should belong...and it's better to have less threads...I guess..)

Posted: Tue Feb 27, 2007 12:23 am Post subject: [play] Beyond Therapy by Christopher Durang

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I'm reading this play called Beyond Therapy, and it's so hillarious...I'm looking forward to how it turns out...I would like to see it on stage...

Last edited by sunnycat on Tue Feb 27, 2007 8:36 pm; edited 2 times in total


Posted: Tue Feb 27, 2007 12:55 am Post subject:

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I'm loving lines such as...

Bruce: It's human to be stupid.

Prudence: Right. You're a partial crackpot.

Bruce: Do you want to get to know me?
Prudence: Well, I don't know. Maybe I shouldn't. I mean, we did meet through a personal ad, you don't have a Pulitzer Prize...
Bruce: I have a membership in the New York Health and Racquet Club.
Prudence: Well, similar but not the same thing.

Prudence: Well, could we go to an American Restaurant? I know I'm very dull, but I didn't even like vanilla ice cream when I was a child. I was afraid of it.
Bruce: That's a significant statement you've just made.
Prudence: It does sound pathological, doesn't it?
Bruce: Don't be afraid to sound pathological. That's what I've learned from my therapy so far.
Prudence: I don't think I've learned much from mine yet.

Bruce: Oh you're becoming more open. Good for you. Ruff, ruff, ruff!
Prudence: (Very taken aback) I'm sorry?
Bruce: (Very embarrassed) Oh, my therapist barks. For encouragement.
Prudence: Ah, of course.
Bruce: (Back to getting to know her) Now tell me about your fear of vanilla ice cream.
Prudence: (As they walk out) Well, I had gotten very used to baby food, and I also liked junket, but there was something about the texture of vanilla ice cream...

Prudence: Bruce, I just don't think your life is in order.
Bruce: Of course it's not. How can life be in order? Life by its very nature is disordered, terrifying. That's why people come together, to face the terrors hand in hand.

Bob: Don't answer it. It's just my mother again. I told her I was checking into a hotel and then jumping out the window. There's just no point in continuing. (To Prudence, sincerely) I hope you're both very happy...Really
Prudence: (Startled, confused) Thank you.
Bruce: Bob, come back here. (Answers phone) Sadie, we'll call you back. (Hangs up) Bob.
Bob: No, go back to your evening. I don't want to stand in your way.
Bruce: You're just trying to get attention.
Bob: There's just no point in continuing.

Bruce: (To Bob suddenly, as Mrs. Wallace is now on the phone) Sssssh. (Into phone) Hello. Mrs. Wallace? Mrs. Wallace, this is Bruce, we have a bit of an emergency, I wonder if you can help...we're in desperate need of some therapy here...

Charlotte: ...Everyone in this world is limited; and depending on one's perspective is either horrible or "okay." Don't you agree, Dr. Farmingham?
Stuart: (Just noticing) I'm all wet.
Charlotte: Ah, the beginnings of self-awareness, bravo, ruff ruff ruff! Oh that's right, I left Snoopy home. Well that was a wrong decision. Prudence, I'm making a point here. We're all alone, everyone's crazy and you have no choice but to be alone or to be with someone in what will be a highly imperfect and probably eventually unsatisfactory relationship.

Bruce: Waiter. Waiter. This is a very existential restaurant.

Bruce: (Smiles at her) Silly song.
Prudence: (Smiles at him) Very silly.

(This one is also moved from another thread...)

Hi cecilfienkelstien! I'd like to buy the Complete Shakespeare book as well! There seems to be several versions of it from different publishing companies....And it seemed cheap for the content because the price ranged from $20~$35. I mean, I think that's a good price for such a thick book. I don't think I can recommend a play right now, but if you're interested you could look into the ones that I've been reading recently...they are as follows:

Moonchildren, by Michael Weller
Faith Healer, by Brian Friel
Beyond Therapy, by Christopher Durang
Closer, by Patrick Marber
Angels in America, by Tony Kushner

I think if the play was made into a movie as well, it's interesting to compare the script, the work on stage, and the movie...For example Closer, Beyond Therapy, and Angels in America were made into movies...(Closer and Angels in America by the same director...)

What I do is...I read the script first...let it sink in...or forget about it for a while...and then see the movie...that way I can appreciate the script and the movie separately without getting the impressions intermingled or being overwhelmed by the work...which helps me integrate the information and arrive at an overall impression.

The sad thing is, it's not always easy to see the play on stage because it may or may not be on production at the moment...I guess it gives you something to wait for...

Thanks Sunnycat, Great Advice! You really know what your talking about!
I like to do the samething, Like comparing the script/book to the movie. It's hard to comeby some original scripts that are really unique. I want to learn how to write my own scripts to mabe I'll post them sometime when I get around to writing them.

"BUG" by Tracy Letts
It's so distrubingly intense with only one set and eight scenes.