Thursday, July 21, 2005
Top 5 Favorite Playwrights
Alright, I'm not a list person. I just can't seem to embrace ranking things that provide enjoyment for a variety of reasons.
That said, I'm always intrigued by what others rank things and often the story behind it.
So, without further adieu, I'd like to ask for your 5 most favorite playwrights. What makes them special to you?
To prime the pump (or bite the bullet) here are my 5 favorite playwrights.
Sam Shepherd--He takes very vivid people and explores in a unique way so many things that underlie being a person, a partner or a family member.
Theresa Rebeck--She writes such honest and real dialogue that you almost feel voyeuristic listening in. Not to mention she gives female actors dynamite to play with.
Ben Johnson--Though he was performed far more often and regularly than Shakespeare up until the 19th century, he has become largely overlooked today. But I think he writes the most vibrant of comedic characters among all of his contemporaries.
Vaclav Havel--Long before he was a politician, he was writing rye and thoughtful explorations of a totalitarian world.
David Henry Hwang--While I'm not familiar with everything he has done, I am captured by his exploration of status, class, position and relationships. His one-act play, Bondage, is still one of my favorite studies of sexual and racial politics, while still providing wonderful humor and inspiring hope.
Course that is a quick list. There are so many amazing playwrights that have or continue to contribute to both American and World theatre. I've had the pleasure of working with some and look forward to the joy of finding others.
That said, I'm always intrigued by what others rank things and often the story behind it.
So, without further adieu, I'd like to ask for your 5 most favorite playwrights. What makes them special to you?
To prime the pump (or bite the bullet) here are my 5 favorite playwrights.
Sam Shepherd--He takes very vivid people and explores in a unique way so many things that underlie being a person, a partner or a family member.
Theresa Rebeck--She writes such honest and real dialogue that you almost feel voyeuristic listening in. Not to mention she gives female actors dynamite to play with.
Ben Johnson--Though he was performed far more often and regularly than Shakespeare up until the 19th century, he has become largely overlooked today. But I think he writes the most vibrant of comedic characters among all of his contemporaries.
Vaclav Havel--Long before he was a politician, he was writing rye and thoughtful explorations of a totalitarian world.
David Henry Hwang--While I'm not familiar with everything he has done, I am captured by his exploration of status, class, position and relationships. His one-act play, Bondage, is still one of my favorite studies of sexual and racial politics, while still providing wonderful humor and inspiring hope.
Course that is a quick list. There are so many amazing playwrights that have or continue to contribute to both American and World theatre. I've had the pleasure of working with some and look forward to the joy of finding others.
Comments:
<< Home
I think the problem with a list like this is that it could change so quickly.
That said, my five favorite playwrights today are:
William Shakespeare: Any surprise here? The more I read him, the more impressed I become.
Tom Stoppard: I like words and Stoppard doesn't shy away from being wordy or clever. His plays challenge me to learn more than I knew going into them.
A.R. Gurney: I like the way the man thinks. I like that he is able to take philosophy and make it playable as a drama or comedy on stage. His plays are about ideas and are thought-provoking because of it.
Ann-Marie McDonald: Is it fair to include someone who has written only one play? But I so much liked her work that I'd be remiss in not including her.
Sophocles: Again, perhaps unfair because I have only read his shows and haven't seen them performed. As a reader, though, I enjoy his works and am impressed with how millenia later, they still have great relevancy.
Post a Comment
That said, my five favorite playwrights today are:
William Shakespeare: Any surprise here? The more I read him, the more impressed I become.
Tom Stoppard: I like words and Stoppard doesn't shy away from being wordy or clever. His plays challenge me to learn more than I knew going into them.
A.R. Gurney: I like the way the man thinks. I like that he is able to take philosophy and make it playable as a drama or comedy on stage. His plays are about ideas and are thought-provoking because of it.
Ann-Marie McDonald: Is it fair to include someone who has written only one play? But I so much liked her work that I'd be remiss in not including her.
Sophocles: Again, perhaps unfair because I have only read his shows and haven't seen them performed. As a reader, though, I enjoy his works and am impressed with how millenia later, they still have great relevancy.
# posted by 
: 9:54 AM
: 9:54 AM << Home
