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purduerx's review against another edition
3.0
While there were plenty of essays in this collection that went completely over my head because of theater 'jargon', they were nearly balanced out by the ones that spoke to me. More often than not, these were the ones where the author included excerpts of her life as a mother, such as "On lice", "On motherhood and stools (the furniture kind)" and "On interruptions." There were also some moments of laugh-out-loud humor ("Chimpanzees and audiences") and some rather thought-provoking ones ("The age of commentary" and "Writing and waiting").
robotswithpersonality's review against another edition
Very grateful I recently read the Rickman diaries, as I feel absorbing his experience with theater (getting plays made and acting in plays) subs for my not having much experience personally in the field this playwright is writing about. This is basically 100 short essays on being a playwright, with a little motherhood thrown in.
Glad to see the one on 'Color-blind casting; or, why are there so many white people on stage?' in particular.
Glad to see the one on 'Color-blind casting; or, why are there so many white people on stage?' in particular.
spiderfelt's review against another edition
3.0
What better way to get all your thoughts about playwriting, criticism and modern theater into print? Each essay is just a couple of paragraphs, easy to digest while navigating my own life on the go. As a bystander not directly involved in the theater world, much of the content was beyond my grasp. This would be more relevant to someone who has studied theater history, or is currently involved in the theater world.
lawmixitup's review against another edition
4.0
Sarah Ruhl is clearly a more intelligent person than I by leaps and bounds. Several of these essays went over my head, as I lack the theater experience and vocabulary necessary to understand them, but there were nuggets of truth about life and people throughout that made it a worthwhile read.
jill's review against another edition
3.0
This is an unusual collection of brief (generally 1-2 page) essays about the theater, written by a playwright and mother. Ruhl approaches life, and plays, with a curiosity that is charming, and these essays are like little nibbles from her mind: this is what she thinks of plays with twins in them, this is why she doesn’t like the word “whimsy,” this is why play’s titles are too reductive, etc. I don’t recommend consuming them in 1-2 giant feasts, as I have done, lest they overwhelm you and leave you with no appetite for more. Also, they are probably best for theater buffs.
misskrislm's review against another edition
4.0
One of the most insightful books I have read about the very nature of theatre and playwriting. Ruhl knows exactly what's she's talking about, no matter how off the wall her thoughts and decisions seem to be. There are many things about theatre which can't easily be put into words, but I think Ruhl just got as close as one can to doing it.
arthoe's review against another edition
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
fast-paced
4.5
lan_string's review against another edition
4.5
There were so many great essays and thoughts! I know this is the whole point of the book, but I wish some of them were longer. Some of the ideas were so rich that I wanted more exploration.