Reviews

Death and the Maiden by Ariel Dorfman

algriffin's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging dark emotional informative reflective sad tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

katek0201's review against another edition

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challenging dark tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? N/A
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

gugu's review against another edition

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dark mysterious reflective tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? N/A
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

sfletcher26's review against another edition

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5.0

This play first came to my attention when Roman Polanski's film staring Sigourney Weaver and Ben Kingsley came out. I remember watching it on VHS and being absolutely blown away by their performances, but repulsed by the background to the story itself.

Reading the play all these years later, I'm struck once again by the power of the two actors' performances as they get so much from such a tight sparce script. That takes nothing away from Dorfman's play, however, as it is raw and visceral and the ambiguous ending is, in many ways, so much stronger than the films ending.

An amazing play but not one for those easily upset.

Trigger warnings...

Torture, sexual violence, and rape.

jjerling's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional informative mysterious sad tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.0

ella2199's review against another edition

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dark emotional mysterious sad tense fast-paced

3.0

clonazine's review against another edition

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Por un lado me parece espectacular como se puede representar tres sectores de la sociedad de forma tan magistral y contundente con tan sólo tres personajes en una habitación  y todas las complejidades que eso conlleva, de uno de los peores momentos de la historia chilena y las similitudes con nuestras propias dictaduras  argentinas. Todos los cuestionamientos éticos y morales que generan el retorno a la democracia y el juzgamiento no sólo de los individuos particulares sino de las instituciones que han participado, promovido, incitado y justificado la  violacion de los derechos humanos.

Pero desde el punto de vista como lectora y la literatura como lugar donde uno puede expresar/ejecutar lo que no se puede hacer en la vida real yo quería que Paulina lo re cague matando a Roberto y Gerardo por igual 🤷‍♀️

demonikchimney's review against another edition

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challenging relaxing sad fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

demolitionreader's review against another edition

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5.0

gripping, disturbing, thought-provoking, sad.

lauren_may's review against another edition

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challenging dark reflective fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? N/A
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0