casparb's review against another edition
3.0
A sharpish little read of the Crucifixion or Christlikeness. It scans quickly - the pace is appreciated though I do have mixed feelings about the very last scene. 3.5?
I suppose there's an issue here for me in that Walcott appears very Nietschean here - drawing from his accounts of the Crucifixion in Twilight of the Idols and The Anti-Christ. I would dismiss this if it weren't for his surprisingly accurate reading of the doctrine of the Eternal Return (not, as it is popularly misconstrued, an endless repetition of one's life - we have a little more philosophical sophistication xoxo).
I think the moon-character is a really rich source of interpretation and I enjoy that even if it's not entirely coherent, or perhaps Because it's not entirely coherent.
yes it's... odd to see him on the syllabus. I don't regret the time with the play. It's enjoyable as an experience, putting aside the problematic final scene.
I suppose there's an issue here for me in that Walcott appears very Nietschean here - drawing from his accounts of the Crucifixion in Twilight of the Idols and The Anti-Christ. I would dismiss this if it weren't for his surprisingly accurate reading of the doctrine of the Eternal Return (not, as it is popularly misconstrued, an endless repetition of one's life - we have a little more philosophical sophistication xoxo).
I think the moon-character is a really rich source of interpretation and I enjoy that even if it's not entirely coherent, or perhaps Because it's not entirely coherent.
yes it's... odd to see him on the syllabus. I don't regret the time with the play. It's enjoyable as an experience, putting aside the problematic final scene.
magykalmira's review against another edition
4.0
This play is a twisting journey through the dream of a mad man who is desperately attempting to reconcile reality with his desire for a more impactful life. The story is touching, if a bit confusing, and I would love to see it staged one day. I do feel that the narrative would play much better on stage than in written form as there were several moments when the emotion was lost because the text was not being performed.
brianareads's review against another edition
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
emmawoodhousestan's review
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
sarbear19's review against another edition
5.0
Such an incredible, complex, terrifying and stunning play on the politics of Blackness, colonialism, peace and violence, and much more. Wow.
teelight's review
emotional
mysterious
reflective
fast-paced
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
I was assigned to read this for a college class about fifteen years ago. It was interesting to see all the annotations from the previous owners. I never actually read this in class, but I have some vague memories of the discussions around it. Better late to read it than never I guess. I am not a big fan of reading plays. In print plays tend to feel a bit dead, to me at least. Sometimes if there are distinct enough voices I enjoy reading them, but that's pretty rare. This collection of plays is good. It didn't really strike a chord with me, but I'm rather sure that is more because I haven't seen these plays acted. I don't get the feeling it is necessarily an issue with the collection.
I really liked the play Ti-Jean and His Brothers. It is a pretty straight telling of a character tricking the devil. That by itself is nothing new, but I like the approach to the story. There is strong enough characterization between the devil and the three brothers that it was easy to keep them all separated in my head.
The other plays seem alright, but I really struggled trying to keep track of who was talking. So many of the lines read like they were coming from the same person that this book ended up feeling more like a book of poetry than a collection of plays. I have a feeling that's just because I have seen actors and actresses actually go through the play. That would definitely go a long way to sort out the stories. That issue might not be for everyone, but it was an issue for me.
I think I would recommend this to people that are really into theater. I'm not sure I would necessarily recommend it to some one that just wants something to read though.
I really liked the play Ti-Jean and His Brothers. It is a pretty straight telling of a character tricking the devil. That by itself is nothing new, but I like the approach to the story. There is strong enough characterization between the devil and the three brothers that it was easy to keep them all separated in my head.
The other plays seem alright, but I really struggled trying to keep track of who was talking. So many of the lines read like they were coming from the same person that this book ended up feeling more like a book of poetry than a collection of plays. I have a feeling that's just because I have seen actors and actresses actually go through the play. That would definitely go a long way to sort out the stories. That issue might not be for everyone, but it was an issue for me.
I think I would recommend this to people that are really into theater. I'm not sure I would necessarily recommend it to some one that just wants something to read though.
sdiaz's review
4.0
Fun read. Incredible plays that seam to deal with modern problems, yet when you read them they feel as if they have been told for hundreds of years. Thoroughly enjoyed them and will keep my eyes open for any chance to see a live production.
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