Some favourites there! I love the Oscar Wilde plays, there is a lyrical brevity and timelessness about them. Tennessee Williams can be brilliantly poignant, as all the baubles disappear one by one for the tragic denouement...
This is a great idea, Emma. I remember I fell in love with Oscar Wilde's writing thanks to his plays, actually. I couldn't speak English then, but it was a good way to read something different from the usual school readings that didn't help much with making us interested in learning the language.
I love reading plays too, almost more than seeing them performed. Have taught a few plays over the years too, and people always seemed to enjoy reading them.
I'd recommend, on top of what you mentioned, almost anything by George Bernard Shaw or Stoppard. (Arcadia is practically perfect, but sad.). Really liked Michael Frayn's Copenhagen.
In the US, Thorton Wilder's Our Town is part of the literary tradition now (and the center of a wonderful new book, Tom Lake, by Ann Patchett). I must admit that Our Town is not one of my own favorites, but one is glad to have read or seen it.
And Molière, and Sophocles, and … oh, it is such a wonderful world of literature.
Am excited to learn from this that one can subscribe to get new plays directly from the theatres where they are being performed (is that right?). Will be checking it out.
I love Oscar Wilde. I remember reading 'The importance of being earnest' for my college and arguing with my professor over everything cuz I felt so strongly about it. You are totally write with Play's being easy to read, whenever I have a reader's block I usually pick up a play and reading feels magical again. Thank you for the mention Emma❤
Some favourites there! I love the Oscar Wilde plays, there is a lyrical brevity and timelessness about them. Tennessee Williams can be brilliantly poignant, as all the baubles disappear one by one for the tragic denouement...
Great post and a lot of really interesting suggestions here!! I’m going to grab some… Thank you for mentioning me 💕💕
This is a great idea, Emma. I remember I fell in love with Oscar Wilde's writing thanks to his plays, actually. I couldn't speak English then, but it was a good way to read something different from the usual school readings that didn't help much with making us interested in learning the language.
Love this — am so glad you wrote it!
I love reading plays too, almost more than seeing them performed. Have taught a few plays over the years too, and people always seemed to enjoy reading them.
I'd recommend, on top of what you mentioned, almost anything by George Bernard Shaw or Stoppard. (Arcadia is practically perfect, but sad.). Really liked Michael Frayn's Copenhagen.
In the US, Thorton Wilder's Our Town is part of the literary tradition now (and the center of a wonderful new book, Tom Lake, by Ann Patchett). I must admit that Our Town is not one of my own favorites, but one is glad to have read or seen it.
And Molière, and Sophocles, and … oh, it is such a wonderful world of literature.
Am excited to learn from this that one can subscribe to get new plays directly from the theatres where they are being performed (is that right?). Will be checking it out.
And hoping to read yours!
I love Oscar Wilde. I remember reading 'The importance of being earnest' for my college and arguing with my professor over everything cuz I felt so strongly about it. You are totally write with Play's being easy to read, whenever I have a reader's block I usually pick up a play and reading feels magical again. Thank you for the mention Emma❤