REVIEW: Bus Stop by William Inge

Date Premiered: March 2, 1955

Having both read and worked on this particular show, I have found I quite like this work. 

Inge has done a marvelous job of creating characters that actors can create stories for to give more weight to the choices made through the play and enough subtext for readers to impress their own visions onto them. The experiences of seeing the play and reading it are two very different but rewarding things, both giving new depth to the way one can look and understand the characters. 

For a show that takes place in the 50s, it does a fairly good job of creating universal characters and a story that contemporary audiences can still appreciate. Grace is a fantastic example, as she is a woman before her time that readers and viewers might be able to liken to someone they may have met before. She is strong and fierce in a coy way, someone who does not need to explain herself or her actions. 

My biggest qualm with the script is the finale, where it seems that Inge plays into the cliches of RomCom and tosses away any sort of conviction Cherie may have had. This also depends on how the role is played on stage, but it leaves much to be desired in terms of a satisfactory conclusion. 

Overall, it is a great work that creates a compelling story and nuanced characters that bring a lot of great elements to the table.

★★★★✩

REVIEW: The Pillowman by Martin McDonagh

Premièred: November 13th, 2003

This is probably the darkest thing I've ever read. Believe it or not, I came upon this play through a BuzzFeed post, "32 Plays You Need to Read Before You Die," and I thoroughly agree. 

My first exposure to McDonagh was when my university performed his play The Cripple of Inishmaan last fall. The dark humor and realism the seeped from every single word drew me to his work, so there was plenty of arm twisting to get me to read The Pillowman. 

The overall premise is intriguing: aspiring author writes gruesome stories; children begin dying in ways similar to what author has written. What are the chances of it being a coincidence? 

With a small cast of colourful characters (all with some of the most interesting motives I have ever seen in a written work), McDonagh touches on tough topics such as child abuse, murder, police brutality, egotism, and mental illness. Parts of me feel awful because I want to laugh at the humorous areas of the play, since the lightness is riding on a gory wave of cruel intentions; however, this is The Pillowman's triumph.

Blending the elements of light and dark is one of McDonagh's skills, as is his gift for realistic and revealing dialogue. There is always new things to learn from each read through. The end is something I won't soon forget.

This is one I need to see preformed live. 

Do keep in mind, it's not for the faint of heart. 

★ ★ ★ ★ ★