Three Plays

August Wilson is hot these days in the theater communities near me. I've seen two of the plays in this book - Joe Turner & Fences - in the last six months, performed well and enthusiastically received by predominantly white audiences. I enjoyed both evenings. Oddly, my wife, who is the live theater buff in the family, thought both plays were too wordy and static. I found myself defending a theater of words, the theater inherited from O'Neil, Ibsen, Shakespeare. My disappointment was not a matter of stage-craft, but of content.Are Wilson's plays clever? Yes, but no more clever than films like Barbershop.Do Wilson's play capture the savor of African-American dialect and humor? Yes, but in a stereotypical fashion that adds little to the legacy of such humor, starting from Joel Chandler Harris. Frankly I kept hoping he'd stretch more, surpass the condescending Amos 'n Andy exaggerations that play so amusingly on stage.Do Wilson's plays have profundity? Hmm... That's the main question, isn't it? Critics write about Wilson's vision of the tragedy of the Southern Blacks abandoning their agrarian world to migrate north into an industrial/urban world where they were unwelcome and spiritually lost. In other words, Wilson could be seen as another Wendell Berry, of a different complexion but equally mystico-sentimental, or as proof of William Faulkner's racialist faith in the innate rightness of staying in your place, and true to 'what you are.' Well, well, of course, for us relativistic post-modernists, all profundities are created equal.... but some are more equal than others. I don't find Wilson's plays as deep as the author apparently did, but they're a welcome change from the assaultive triteness of David Mamet and Co.

Having seen the excellent film version of "Fences," I was intrigued to read the play and two others in this anthology. "Fences" holds up well to a close reading, as does "Joe Turner's Come and Gone." But "Ma Rainey's Black Bottom" seemed relentlessly negative, with the characters sniping at one another throughout; I developed no affection for any of them.

I purchased this book because I am participating in a book group that is reading Wilson's works one month at a time. This book is three in one so it is very convenient to have. This book has three of his most acclaimed works In terms of the content, I am learning to appreciate his writing. There are many levels of art and skill in his works that require more than superficial reading. Owning copies enables me to read and re-read ( which is necessary to fully appreciate) at my discretion.

I received this in the mail quickly after ordering it with no problems. These plays are great. I read three of his other works from the Pittsburgh Cycle previously, so I was excited to read more. If you are not familiar with his plays, this can be a great introduction, and I would encourage anyone interested to buy them.

I thoroughly enjoyed these three plays I am tami g a theater arts class and everyone enjoyed these three plays. What a superb writer! !!!!!!!

great plays. see them!!!

Great collection within a hardbound book.

A decent price for this collector's edition and arrived timely and as described. It was intended as a gift and I was proud to give it.