New Playwrights: The Best Plays of 2005 by D.L. Lepidus


New Playwrights: The Best Plays of 2005
Title : New Playwrights: The Best Plays of 2005
Author :
Rating :
ISBN : 1575254468
ISBN-10 : 9781575254463
Language : English
Format Type : Paperback
Number of Pages : 310
Publication : First published May 31, 2006

The seventh annual collection of new plays contains an eclectic mix of styles and subjects, all produced during the 2004–2005 theatrical season.The Learning Curve by Rogelio Martinez Produced on Theatre Row in NYC. An insightful look at student unrest on a major college campus in the 1960s, and its continuing impact on our world today.Comfort Women by Chungmi Kim Produced by Urban Stages. A Korean-American woman is forced to confront her past deeds as a sex slave of the Japanese military during World War II.String of Pearls by Michele Lowe Produced by Primary Stages. The strange story of a pearl necklace, and its impact upon the lives of several women over time.Swimming in the Shallows by Adam Bock Extended-run hit from Off-Broadway’s Second Stage. A whimsical comedy about love. What do you do if the man of your dreams is, literally, a shark? Everything Will Be Different by Mark Schultz Produced by Soho Rep. A troubled teenaged girl retreats more and more into her own fantasy world.Texas Homos by Jan Buttram Produced by Abingdon Theatre Co. Two leading citizens of a small Texas city, both married, get arrested for soliciting sex in the men’s room of a local park, and try to find a way to beat the rap.

New Playwrights: The Best Plays of 2005 Reviews

  • Christopher

    So it's hard to write a review for a collection of this kind (where the only unifying factor is the year the plays were produced in New York), so I'll do what I typically do: average out ratings of the individual plays.

    Swimming in the Shallows: Not as nearly experimental as it wishes it was and doesn't go as deep as I liked, and yet I really enjoyed it. ***

    Comfort Women: An amazing historical story and one that should be known but this is just a badly written play. It had an outrage that should propel it forward, but instead it's just kinda clunky. *

    Texas Homos: This play's saving grace, on the other hand, is its expert pacing. The energy is so good that you almost overlook the clunky exposition and characters that are flatter than one would like (not to mention a simple story). **

    Learning Curve: A great story and generally well written, though the ending was a little lack-luster, and it was annoying how characters in the 60's would keep saying "it's the 60's!" ***

    Everything Will Be Different: A REALLY good play! It's sad and heartbreaking and somehow beautiful. *****

    String of Pearls: Uses the journey of a pearl necklace to show the lives of various women and their quiet quests to connect. It's a little convoluted but still effective none-the-less. ****

  • Jonny

    Adam Bock's "Swimming in the Shallows" is quite excellent.