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3.98 AVERAGE
3.98 AVERAGE
funny
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Dang. What a play! Funnier than I could have anticipated and with twists up until the very end.
I’m not a big play person (especially as far as reading them goes), but would still say that this is highly recommended.
Go in blind and you won’t regret it. It’s a quick read to boot.
The only thing that bothered me was that I kept thinking Sidney should be named Clifford, and vice versa. Sidney just sounds like the name of a younger man to me, but
I’m not a big play person (especially as far as reading them goes), but would still say that this is highly recommended.
Go in blind and you won’t regret it. It’s a quick read to boot.
The only thing that bothered me was that I kept thinking Sidney should be named Clifford, and vice versa. Sidney just sounds like the name of a younger man to me, but
I kept waiting for the wife to come back. That would have made a great ending. Really thought the final scene was terrible and an unnecessary ending.
I was reminded of this play after reading Eight Perfect Murders, (which spoils it) and realized I had a copy and reread it. I saw this in London many moons ago, and had the classic jump-out-of-your-seat and scream moment in the theatre, which was very fun. I remembered the movie as not as good, re-watched it, and felt that way again. But I might very well have liked the movie more had I not known was going to happen. This is a play that is going to suffer if the element of surprise is gone. So don't read it before you've seen it.
funny
mysterious
medium-paced
I remembered Act 1 from the movie…but Act II was a surprise. As good as I remember it, with twists and twists.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder
If you’re a fan of the classic Dial M for Murder or the remake A Perfect Murder, then this nail-biter may be just the thriller for you.
Five characters.
Two acts.
Murder.
Twists.
And some humor.
The plot features a play within a play. Veteran play write Sidney Bruhl receives a draft of a play from his former student Clifford Anderson. The play is the perfect thriller. When Bruhl’s wife asks how good the play is, he responds, “It can’t miss. A gifted director couldn’t even hurt it.”
While there are other jabs at the world of theater, the play mainly concentrates on how Bruhl will regain his success. His last moneymaker was 18 years ago. He comments, “Nothing recedes like success.”
Characters and motives shuffle continuously. I loved the surprise after surprise momentum that Levin creates within 68 pages. Word choices are crisp and concise!
I chose this play for my Reading Challenge in part because it was short, but also for the rave reviews on what an unpredictable thriller the story was. And now I want to see these words performed. I may have to settle with watching the movie version.
Five characters.
Two acts.
Murder.
Twists.
And some humor.
The plot features a play within a play. Veteran play write Sidney Bruhl receives a draft of a play from his former student Clifford Anderson. The play is the perfect thriller. When Bruhl’s wife asks how good the play is, he responds, “It can’t miss. A gifted director couldn’t even hurt it.”
While there are other jabs at the world of theater, the play mainly concentrates on how Bruhl will regain his success. His last moneymaker was 18 years ago. He comments, “Nothing recedes like success.”
Characters and motives shuffle continuously. I loved the surprise after surprise momentum that Levin creates within 68 pages. Word choices are crisp and concise!
I chose this play for my Reading Challenge in part because it was short, but also for the rave reviews on what an unpredictable thriller the story was. And now I want to see these words performed. I may have to settle with watching the movie version.
This play, as most, would be more enjoyable to watch than read. It’s very “meta” and cyclical. It does a great job poking fun at thrillers and the audience for engaging with thrillers.