Book Review: Christopher Durang Explains It All For You

Do you like twisted comedies? You like beating up people? Do you hate Catholicism? Do you love Sigourney Weaver? Then you will love Christopher Durang Explains It All For You.

This book is a compilation of six of Christopher Durang's plays: "The Nature and Purpose of the Universe", "'Dentity Crisis", "Titanic", "The Actor's Nightmare", "Sister Mary Ignatius Explains It All For You", and "Beyond Therapy". In reading through the plays in order they were presented, I noticed that the plays were becoming more "normal" or I was going "crazy".

"The Nature, etc, etc, etc" is a play about an f-ed up family and religion. There are agents of God who play most of the extraneous characters (even hookers) and the Mann family. The mother, Eleanor is continually beaten upon by her sons and husband. It's not supposed to be funny, but it is. We are supposed to feel sorry for Eleanor, and we do. Reading this play made me horrified at myself and that someone could write something so mean. Everyone in Eleanor's life walks all over her and kicks her ass. She has such a horrible life and wants to die until she is told by one of the agents of God that he is coming back to rescue her. I don't know if I should tell you if she escapes her horrible life. Redeeming Quality: I've never seen ass-kicking so vividly described and it makes you feel like you lived a normal life.

"Dentity Crisis" is the only play of this series that I've seen produced and I really enjoyed it. The audience is met with Jane, a young girl who has just tried to kill herself. We pity her. Then we meet her mother. Her mother, Edith Formage, invented cheese in France, she invents banana bread in front of your eyes by jamming a banana into several slices of bread. Then we meet Jane's brother/father/grandfather/lover, Robert. He is my favorite part and is a great character for any comedy actor. Durang writes this part so well that it is easy to delineate who the actor is protraying. Oh, by the way, Edith and Robert are lovers, in almost every form that he takes (gross). Then finally we meet Jane's therapist who has a sex change with his wife. No one believes Jane that none of this is normal, she is stuck in a cyclone of crazy. Does she get out? Redeeming Quality: The character of Robert. Extremely well written. Makes you feel like you're not crazy (unless you are, then you feel more crazy.) A fun, short read.

"Titanic" is the most sexually overt plays of the collection. Durang himself was known to burlesque his heart out, so it only makes sense. The play takes place on the Titanic. Everyone sleeps with everyone even if they are in the same family, or not. It's very confusing keeping track of Lidia's character and who she really is. Is she the daughter, the lesbian lover, the baby's mama, or the son's girlfriend? Obscuring the lines is something that Durang obviously likes to do in his plays, obviously just to mess with us or to make a statement. Lidia carries an animal in her vagina, too. Yes, he goes there: she feeds it. The Captain has may scenes with a dildo strapped to his face. This play is rated R. Redeeming Quality: The Captain's wife (who we never see) keeps running around the ship playing a sound cue record of ships hitting icebergs. Funny.

"The Actor's Nightmare": ONE OF MY FAVORITE PLAYS and most popular of Durang's works (it's normal-like too!) George Spelvin is an understudy, but he doesn't remember being an understudy. He just appears in a theater with no notion of how he got there, but everyone recognizes him. In the course of the show, he plays four different leading men, not knowing anything but basic, common knowledge of the plays. This is a wonderful role. I also love this play because there is a stage manager as a character. You can tell that Durang has fun writing this and poking fun at Noel Coward, Shakespeare, and Samuel Beckett. This play is extremely short and very witty. I recommend it. Redeeming Quality: Every single word of it. It's wonderful.

"Sister Mary Ignatious" is Durang's poke at Catholicism. We're at a presentation made by Sister. We meet Thomas her Catechism student. We see how brainwashed he is. We meet some old students and see how they turned out. No so good. They turn on Sister. I was kind of turned off by this play, but that could just my natural aversion to religion. Since I didn't grow up Catholic I think I miss a lot of what Durang is trying to say, unless of course it's, "religion can brainwash you". Redeeming Qualities: Sister is a great role for an older woman. The ending is quite surprising.

LASTLY, "Beyond Therapy": yet again, a lackluster play. This one is focused at relationships and therapy. What is healthy? What is normal? What are the boundaries between patient and doctor? How does a relationship function, basically? Why is a waiter never around when you need one? This play is about two people who go to therapy and meet each other through a personal ad. This play is about taking control of who you are and who you want to be. I wasn't very impressed or amused. Redeeming Quality: One of the therapists barks. (Crazy.)

All in all I will say this collection is interesting. It grossed me out. It bored me. It made me giggle. Made me want a cookie. That's not to bad. Also, Durang includes, with almost every play, his helpful hints about how to make the show a success. That's nice of him.

In a Nutshell: Borrow it from me and read "'Dentity Crisis" and "The Actor's Nightmare". Unless you're a crazy person or in a mental institution, then read all the others.

This Blog is Now on Myspace!

Don't fret! I'll still be here, but I will also be posting this blog on my myspace in the effort to get more readers and more discussion going! It sucks to be doing double duty, but this is the sacrifice I will make for my new hobby!

So if you would like to read my blog while surfing myspace, head to: www.myspace.com/tekiaustin

Commenting on Comments!

My good friend Travis said this:

I'm going to give another vote for books on tape/CD.

I made it through Life of Pi commuting to/from SU however long ago and Summerland on the way back from visiting Lesley in Mississippi. It is amazing how much I loved Wonder Boys and how much I hated Summerland.

A vote for Sedaris too. Quite amusing.

So that's two votes for books on tape/CD and David Sedaris. Now Travis, are you the reason that Life of Pi didn't work when I checked it out?!? ::glare?:: About Summerland, although I've only read Kavalier & Clay, I do know that Summerland was written as a children's books, so then the stories might have been up a different kind of literary road, i.e. simpler, easier plot lines to follow. Plus, Wonder Boys was made into a movie, which means it had to be pretty good. Have you seen the movie? What did you think? I feel a future post coming up about books to movies.

Fionn said this:

I don't think you're sad. I think you're happy and spunky. I thought you were sad at the time. I really enjoy reading Neil Gaiman and Mark Z. Danielewski. What do you recommend to someone who enjoys a good fantasy story?

Well, this is a hard question for me. I haven't read a lot of fantasy myself, except for Only Revolutions by Danielewski. (A good recommendation) and I only feel honest recommending books that I've read. Now a good friend of mine has been raving over Gaiman's Starlight. He says that its much more graphic (sexually and otherwise) thank the movie and that it's truely phenomenal, so if you haven't read that one I would pass along the recommendation. I've also heard a lot about the Dark Tower series, but I honestly know nothing about them. For me the only honest recommendation I can read is a children's series called Redwall, this was my favorite series as I child and I've started to collect them and read them again. This series is Watership Down-esqe meets bedtime. The stories chronicle the history of Redwall Abbey, a home for peaceful animals. The Abbey is continuously warred against by greedy rats and the like. The stories are always full of brotherhood and clever animal warfare. I've always enjoyed these books because of their simplicity and creativity. Plus, this Abbey and it's inhabitants, though animalkind, always gives me hope for the goodness in mankind.

It's a Blog! About Books!

Hello World!

It's been a long time since I've been a-blogging and I know many of you missed me.

I'm trying something new. Why? Because Fionn thinks I'm sad. We're talking the other night and he thinks that I'm sad and maybe I am. I'm not sure. I don't really do a lot of "activities" for myself. I do the basic "watching tv, reading, sleeping" but I don't really have a hobby that I'm good at. I feel like I'm kind of mediocre at everything. Anyway, this is an attempt to talk about something I enjoy, which are books.

I love reading. (Nerds, join in with me) I love learning and experiencing through books. Books have been my best friends. They are always there when you want or need them, they don't get pissed when you don't pay attention to them for weeks, they tell you their problems without wanting to know yours, and if you don't like them you don't have to have a "talk".

I collect books, I'm a self-proclaimed bookaholic. The hardback first editions really get me.

So this is my blog about books. But consider it more like a forum. I want to know what you think of the books I discuss. I love suggestions. What are you reading? If you've written something I'd love to read it and discuss it. I feel that the only way that this sort of thing can survive is with your help and input. So on with the first blog!

Books to Read at Work (Specifically Backstage Theater)

So theater is my other passion and I can get a lot of reading done, but I've come across a few barriers to reading at work, rules if you will.

1. Modern vs. Period. When I'm doing a period play I cannot read a period book. Hearing the same language in my ear and my head makes it incredibly difficult to give my extremely divided attention to both. For example, I'm working on The Importance of Being Earnest by Oscar Wilde written in 1895. I wanted to read Villette by Charlotte Bronte, written in 1853, but the style of writing and the style of language in the show were too similar, hence: modern vs. period. When one is doing a period play, read a modern book and vice versa. Period novels are hard to read with any sort of distraction anyway, so here's to you!

Suggestions: For period, read the Jane Austen or Bronte sister's canon. How awesome would you feel to say, "Oh, I've read all of Austen's books." Blam-o. People are impressed and probably think you're a sap. Plus! You've read all of Jane Austen's books! Go you! (This is my current goal). If you are looking for a less romantic Austen novel, check out Mansfield Park. There is a stronger class theme rather than mixed up lovers/snotty men theme.
For a modern selection, try The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy series. Five books whose strong points will be propounded on in the next section.

2. Keep is short and sweet. Since I'm at work I need something I can put down quickly and pick back up easily, so this rule is two-fold. I find that a book with lots of short chapters or breaks in it is perfect for backstage reading. I can pace myself easily and still get it read quickly. Plus, I feel like I'm reading it faster when there are shorter sections, it's magic. Also, the shorter the book, the more I read, and then the more accomplished I feel. The "Unread Bookshelf" is becoming a serious problem and I need to keep it in order! Nothing feels better than finishing a book, but if you're at work, make sure to have a back up book or knitting project!

Suggestions: Hitchhiker's Guide by Douglas Adams. Here is a great series of books with smart, witty writing, short sections and chapters, easy to put down and pick up and there is a movie to watch once you finish them! For those of you unfamiliar with the story line: Arthur Dent and Tricia McMillian are the only two humans in the whole galaxy who survived the demolishment of Earth to make way for an interstellar superhighway. Arthur Dent is continuously abused by the galaxy. His friend Ford Perfect a writer for the Hitchhiker's Guide gets him into the most dreadful scrapes. Hilarity. Trust me. (If anyone can explain to me the fourth book and what happens to Fenchurch in the fifth book, I'd really REALLY appreciate it.)
For a more serious taste, try Any Human Heart by William Boyd. Here is a book, written like a diary by a writer. Is it fiction? Is it true? This books emotional turbulence is astounding. I loved to hate reading this book. It was very descriptive sexually, just as a warning.

3. NOT IN THEATER?!? Here's a rule for you!: Books on tape (CD) are the greatest. No, seriously. But again, it has to be with the right job. If you are sitting at a desk where you can listen to the radio, get a book on CD instead. Get a book on CD of the book that has been sitting on your bedside table since Christmas. When you finish all the CD's you'll feel like you've read it and you can put it up with the rest of the "Read Paperbacks". The other great thing about books on tape is that they can go with you in that horrible car ride to and from work AND you get to listen to Sean Connery's sexy voice all day. (Sean Connery is just an example, I do not know if he's narrated a book on tape or not, please don't sue me) Your co-workers might not mind either! Books on CD are expensive so you could all pitch in on the latest bestseller or rip it from each other.

If you don't sit at a desk, you can put it on your iPod (or your ZUNE!!!) Now I cannot think of any books on tape that would make for great workout music, but I've been wrong before. Please let me know if you find one! I listened to six books on tape from my zune when I was working in a library shelving books, bringing me to another great point (this should be it's own blog!)...

Your local (larger) library branch has a worth-perusing section of books on tape. Depending on the city you live in it might be hit or miss. The books on CD selection at Southwestern University was far superior to the "By Donation" selection at the Georgetown Public Library. But please look for yourself! If you are a magnanimous person you could purchase the book on CD you want and donate it to your local library's pathetic collection.

A warning about books on tape: they have a tendency to be abridged. If you are not sure if it is abridged or not, the packaging will usually say along with the length of the collection in some tiny font at the back bottom of the cover. I was jipped out of the complete story of The Nanny Diaries and then the movie did not make sense (there was a hunky love interest?!?! Who knew?)

SUGGESTIONS: Any book on tape by the hilarious David Sedaris. He reads his own works and some stories are cut from live readings. If it's holiday time, read/listen to Holidays on Ice on the way to the grandparents' for ham and quirky gifts. His story Santaland Diaries has been converted into a theatrical show. You could take your parents to see it around Christmas time.

The end. Please, PLEASE send your comments, suggestions, current readings, stories, poems, insults, and love notes (since it's Valentine's).