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Dramatic Pause

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Summer is a time when we have a little time under the sun to read and expand our horizons. As playwrights, I feel we do not do enough reading of others' work, and we certainly do not often know enough about our contemporaries. For that reason, I offer ten contemporary (more or less) titles that every playwright should read. Why not include some in your summer reading?

1. Three Days of Rain, Richard Greenberg. Here is a play by a wonderful contemporary playwright, who unfortunately is not incredibly well-known. The two acts are in different periods with different characters, played by the same actors, which is handled so well that I feel that any playwright should read it. A touching story while being quite comedic.

2. How I Learned to Drive, Paula Vogel. It has long been my belief that Paula is one of those playwrights that everybody loves, but that no one knows. This is unfortunate, because there is something special in the way she writes. On the surface, this play sounds terrible: A comedic look at the sexual abuse of a girl by her uncle. And yet, you will continue to laugh in spite of yourself. Fine writing and pretty light. A good summer read.

3. Spring Storm, Tennessee Williams. How can a Williams play be contemporary? Well, it's not. In fact, Spring Storm dates from the pre-Glass Menagerie days of Tom Williams, the University of Iowa student who went on to become Tennessee, America's best dramatist. This play is one of the reasons, in fact, why Tom left Iowa. It was "undiscovered" until fairly recently, and the edition now out has been compiled from many drafts. A great look at the beginnings of genius.

4. The Good Doctor, Neil Simon. Not exactly contemporary (it was written in the early 70's), but a great unknown play from Neil Simon. Essentially, he took a few Chekhov short stories and turned them into a play in his own language. But this is no Mamet Cherry Orchard. Along with all new material (largely monologues by the "Narrator," who is in fact Chekhov), Simon took quite a few liberties with the language of the master. This play is certainly a must read. It contains everything from very cerebral humor to broader, vaudevillian comedy.

5. The Cryptogram, David Mamet. This play, really, is anything but light summer fare. Actually, it is a dark tale of a child coming to understand the code spoken by those around him. It is tragic in a Mametian way, and is dark and deep, but in my opinion the most beautiful thing Mamet has ever written. Save time to read it twice. Even then, you won't get a lot of things (Mamet, like Chekhov and Williams, must be seen rather than read to be truly appreciated), but you'll still get quite an experience.

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