Reviews

The Bald Soprano and Other Plays by Eugène Ionesco, Donald M. Allen

dkrane's review

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4.0

Bald soprano 4/5
The lesson 5/5
Jack, or the Submission 2/5
The Chairs (3.5/5, because I can)
Interesting stuff about the futility of language, the pressure (and emptiness) of conformity. The lesson is my fave by far because it goes beyond its absurdists trappings to tackle misogyny in the 1950s. It's a lot to read all at once, but certainly a different idea of what theater can do.

gabieowleyess's review against another edition

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2.0

I read The Bald Soprano for my class because I was assigned a scene from it. I am so confused about what I just read. I mean, what happened?

heggi's review against another edition

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funny lighthearted mysterious fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.0

meowlvika's review

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4.0

I loved 'The Lesson' and 'The Chairs.' The latter made me anxious as well lol. I guess I'm gonna go watch a play later if it's available online. That being said, what was 'Jack, or the Submission' all about? Lmao. And 'The Bald Soprano' was okayish. I confess I didn't quite get it, probably why I didn't enjoy it much? I have been seeing other reviews where people loved it.

tmarso's review against another edition

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dark mysterious

3.25

Odd. It kept to its theme of unreality.

specificwonderland's review

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4.0

Absurd and I'm here for it. Some other book I read (was it In Watermelon Sugar?) mentioned Ionesco plays so I wanted to see what the atmosphere was like. Bizarre and philosophical, therefore: awesome. Not as absurd as a Lynch production but sort of atemporal and Greek. I would love to see his work on the stage.

oranjade's review against another edition

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funny

3.75

barrypierce's review against another edition

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3.0

Ionesco writes plays for masochists.

rebkahn's review against another edition

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3.0

Only read The Bald Soprano.

josh_caporale's review against another edition

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The Bald Soprano: 5 stars.

Reviews to follow for each play in this collection upon completion.