Order from a Major Online Bookstore
Ultimate Book Price Comparison Engine
Save Your Time And Money
| AnyBook4Less.com | Order from a Major Online Bookstore |
|
| Home | Store List | FAQ | Contact Us | | ||
| Ultimate Book Price Comparison Engine Save Your Time And Money |
||
 |
Title: The Laramie Project by Moises Kaufman ISBN: 0-375-72719-1 Publisher: Vintage Books USA Pub. Date: 11 September, 2001 Format: Paperback Volumes: 1 List Price(USD): $11.00 |
Average Customer Rating: 4.93 (14 reviews)
Rating: 5
Summary: A powerful play about a pivotal American tragedy
Comment: The 1998 murder of Matthew Shepard, a gay college student, was a watershed event. This tragedy stimulated debates on anti-gay prejudice and violence. "The Laramie Project," by Moises Kaufman and the members of the Tectonic Theater Project, attempts to find meaning in the murder and its aftermath.
Kaufman and the other members of the theater group travelled to Laramie, Wyoming, which was the focal point of the Matthew Shepard tragedy, in order to interview the people of the town. As the play's opening states, the dialogue of the play is drawn from these interviews as well as from other sources. Thus the play's language has a raw authenticity. Many different voices are heard: a policewoman, Matthew's father, a Catholic priest, a lesbian college professor, Matthew's killers, a Unitarian minister, a viciously anti-gay protestor, etc.
An interesting aspect of the play is the presence of Tony Kushner's play "Angels in America" as a sort of "background" text. "Angels" is mentioned more than once in this play, and indeed, there are significant parallels between the two texts. I recommend that people read both of these remarkable works.
Many issues are addressed in "Project." One character notes that "we need to own this crime." This play is a not only a morally challenging attempt to deal with a high profile tragedy, but also a compelling work of art.
Rating: 4
Summary: A play better seen than read
Comment: Moises Kaufman, who created the magnificent stage drama _Gross Indecency_, based on the trial of Oscar Wilde, here takes another true-life incident, the murder of Matthew Shephard, the young gay man who was beaten and left to die in Laramie, Wyoming, and applies the same documentary techniques, culling the monologues and characters from interviews with actual residents of the town and people variously involved with the tragedy and its aftermath.
I saw the play in its Off-Broadway incarnation and was overwhelmed by the drama, brought out by a magnificent cast (members of which helped write the text), many playing multiple characters. The skill and passion of the actors, I think, was responsible for much of the power of the evening, combined with a simple but effective production. Inevitably, reading the text alone will not bring out the full impact of this work. Still, it is a powerful testament and one that should be disseminated in whatever form. If it's produced anywhere in your neighborhood, I would say, run, don't walk to see it.
Rating: 5
Summary: Powerful piece of work
Comment: I give this story five stars because it is a powerful piece of work that taught me a lot of things about how American society deals with homosexuality. I've never been to Wyoming but this story helps to give some insight on how things were in that state when this horrible tragedy happened. I hope more people get a chance to read this book as it is evident, based on the speeches by some members of this government, that homophobia is still present in this society. That kind of institutionalized homophobia was seen in its worst form when Matthew Shepard was viciously attacked and killed because he was gay. This book certainly is an eye-opener and for that it deserves the best praise. Kudos to Moises Kaufman.
 |
Title:The Laramie Project ASIN: B000067D0Y Publisher: HBO Home Video Pub. Date: 04 February, 2003 List Price(USD): $14.98 Comparison N/A, buy it from Amazon for $13.03 |
 |
Title: Angels in America: Millennium Approaches by Tony Kushner ISBN: 1559360615 Publisher: Theatre Communications Group Pub. Date: 01 April, 1993 List Price(USD): $11.95 |
 |
Title: Losing Matt Shepard by Beth Loffreda ISBN: 0231118597 Publisher: Columbia University Press Pub. Date: 15 October, 2001 List Price(USD): $13.95 |
 |
Title: Proof: A Play by David Auburn ISBN: 0571199976 Publisher: Faber & Faber Pub. Date: 01 March, 2001 List Price(USD): $13.00 |
 |
Title: Wit : A Play by Margaret Edson ISBN: 0571198775 Publisher: Faber & Faber Pub. Date: 01 March, 1999 List Price(USD): $13.00 |
Thank you for visiting www.AnyBook4Less.com and enjoy your savings!
Copyright� 2001-2021 Send your comments
