This was a somewhat frustrating read. I loved The Mutilated and Confessional, but the rest I either enjoyed somewhat or found extremely frustrating toThis was a somewhat frustrating read. I loved The Mutilated and Confessional, but the rest I either enjoyed somewhat or found extremely frustrating to get through. Williams adopted a style in some of these plays that I found so grating that I was on the verge of skipping them but powered through anyway. What he does is have characters start talking in incomplete sentences. I'm sure this comes off better on stage, but reading it was grating as hell, so much so that I wanted to fling the book across the room when I'd hit those stretches. There are also surreal stories such as The Gnadiges Fraulein that just didn't work for me. I'll definitely revisit these at some point because of how much I love Williams' work, but for a first go through, it didn't do anything for me.
But still...the Mutilated was brilliant. When you read this you understand completely why John Waters was such a huge fan of his....more
Obviously with a collection of short plays there's gonna be some hits and misses, but there's enough good stuff in this that I highly recommend it. ThObviously with a collection of short plays there's gonna be some hits and misses, but there's enough good stuff in this that I highly recommend it. This Property is Condemned is heartbreaking, 27 Wagons is disturbing, and The Demolition Downtown was a big surprise, since it felt almost sci fi. I wasn't wild about The Last of My Solid Gold Watches or Steps Must be Gentle, but the writing was interesting enough that I stayed engaged throughout....more
This is what I was expecting when I heard about Williams' later work being much more bizarre than his previous work. It reminds me of a Charlie KaufmaThis is what I was expecting when I heard about Williams' later work being much more bizarre than his previous work. It reminds me of a Charlie Kaufman script, and with everything being so meta and self-referential now, this play feels very "fresh" to me. Two people, trapped in a theater, performing a flop play with no ending, and the lines between the play and the play within the play blur and enfold each other in the end. I would love to see this one performed. ...more
With this play I've reached the end of Hollywood's marathon of Tennessee Williams adaptations. I've always wondered about his non-adapted work, since With this play I've reached the end of Hollywood's marathon of Tennessee Williams adaptations. I've always wondered about his non-adapted work, since I've heard for years that it was just bad and that Williams had lost his touch by then. I guess the box office failings of Boom! and Last of the Mobile Hot Shots permanently scared Hollywood away from him. Anyhow, this was an off-Broadway production and a story that Williams seemed to really care about, if the correspondences in the edition that I read are anything to go by. It doesn't seem like any production got this quite right, with performances and casting being the main issue. I can understand why...this play is extremely dialog-heavy with very little "plot". Nearly every character gets a huge monologue, and since these are personal declarations, a bad (or even "off") actor could kill the effect. I liked this play a lot. The dialog is great, and with Williams free to do what he wants, he gets into some REALLY lurid territory. The gay aspect to his plays is not even hidden here, with two characters going into detail about their lifestyle and Leona bragging about being a "faggot's moll." The characters are interesting and once again there isn't a clear "hero" that we're supposed to root for. I'm looking forward to seeing where his plays go now that he's no longer got his eye on Hollywood and can go in whatever direction he wants. ...more
A really dark take on what apparently is one of Williams' favorite subjects, mainly, sexual healing. This time sex seems to cure racism, which isn't tA really dark take on what apparently is one of Williams' favorite subjects, mainly, sexual healing. This time sex seems to cure racism, which isn't that hard for me to believe, honestly. Anyhow, this play is the delightful story of two half brothers who hate each other, one of them gleefully waiting for the other to die of TB. Like I said, dark stuff, but it's also an enjoyable, fast read, and Chicken's resentment is completely justified....more
Williams' last hit play. It's definitely racier than his previous works, and Shannon is a fascinating character. Then again, I've always found the ideWilliams' last hit play. It's definitely racier than his previous works, and Shannon is a fascinating character. Then again, I've always found the idea of fallen, flawed men of faith to be endlessly fascinating, and I loved Williams' take on the subject. I feel like I need to read this one again, just because there's a lot here that I think I missed. Damn good stuff!...more
An even lighter affair than The Rose Tattoo, but both are a bit similar. Two unhappy husbands meet up on Christmas Eve to discuss their failed marriagAn even lighter affair than The Rose Tattoo, but both are a bit similar. Two unhappy husbands meet up on Christmas Eve to discuss their failed marriages, one of the marriages being as fresh as a day old. There's a lot of good stuff here, but like I said, it's pretty light, and the theme of "sexual healing" has already been explored in a better fashion in The Rose Tattoo. However, after a series of plays with downer endings (death by blowtorch, possible beating to death, etc.), it's nice to see a play of his end on the happy note of two couples banging in separate rooms....more
An interesting play with a despicable lead. I get that he's a dreamer, but Wayne's blackmail of the Princess and the way he uses people really hammersAn interesting play with a despicable lead. I get that he's a dreamer, but Wayne's blackmail of the Princess and the way he uses people really hammers home his reputation in his hometown. I never once wanted this "dreamer" to succeed. This play is like a grotesque, with every character a bit ugly. I liked it, but overall it's not one of his best....more
What an insane play. An older woman wants to lobotomize a relative for telling the disgusting truth about the death of her pervert son. I really likedWhat an insane play. An older woman wants to lobotomize a relative for telling the disgusting truth about the death of her pervert son. I really liked this play, and the lurid side of Williams really shines here....more
A revised version of Battle of Angels. Reading these plays in order has been fascinating, as it shows how an author defines concepts and characters ovA revised version of Battle of Angels. Reading these plays in order has been fascinating, as it shows how an author defines concepts and characters over years of experience. Williams had already written three masterpieces by the time this came out, so his grasp of character improved on the characters in this play. Also, after spending time abroad and becoming enamored with Italy, he added the immigrant aspect into this play. Overall it's a stronger play than Battle of Angels, with Williams keeping what was good in the original and toning down some of the more outrageous character behavior....more
Jesus Christ what a great play. Maggie the Cat and Big Daddy are two of Wiliams' greatest creations, and their dialog is some of the best I've ever reJesus Christ what a great play. Maggie the Cat and Big Daddy are two of Wiliams' greatest creations, and their dialog is some of the best I've ever read. There's so much going on in this play. Everyone is so distinct here that an actor could really sink their teeth into nearly any role. Probably my second favorite play (after Streetcar). ...more
Hard to believe this was Williams' first major play, as so much of his trademarks are right here. It's an early version of Orpheus Descending, but it'Hard to believe this was Williams' first major play, as so much of his trademarks are right here. It's an early version of Orpheus Descending, but it's also very strong with memorable dialog. Val seems like a test run for Streetcar's Stanley. I haven't read Orpheus Descending yet so I can't compare the two, but it's a very solid play and well worth the read....more
It's hard to enjoy spending an entire play with one of the most unlikable characters imaginable. There's some great bitchy dialog in this play, but itIt's hard to enjoy spending an entire play with one of the most unlikable characters imaginable. There's some great bitchy dialog in this play, but it feels like a slog after awhile since you don't get the sense that Sissy is going to develop any. I almost want to read what was going on in Williams' life when he wrote this so I can get a better idea of how to process this play. I'm thinking maybe it was inspired by Bette Davis' notorious behavior during the Broadway run of Night of the Iguana? I'm not sure....more
A vastly superior revision of Summer and Smoke. Alma's character has changed considerably...instead of being merely a prude, she's a full-on eccentricA vastly superior revision of Summer and Smoke. Alma's character has changed considerably...instead of being merely a prude, she's a full-on eccentric and you can see why she's an outcast. John's dad is completely removed from the story in this version, and his mother is introduced to give the story those great mommy issues that Williams is so great at. The characterizations of everyone in the story is just so much stronger than Summer and Smoke. Even Alma's dad gets a juicier role. If only we got a feature film version of this instead of Summer and Smoke, though the later televised play was pretty good....more
Fantastically dirty. One of my favorite movies, and the play makes great reading on its own. It's less brutal than the play that the story originated Fantastically dirty. One of my favorite movies, and the play makes great reading on its own. It's less brutal than the play that the story originated in, but there's so much good dialog and story in it that I'd probably read this more often than I'd watch the film, just so I can enjoy the language of it. Highly recommended!...more
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