Just as some books turn into movies and movies turn into books, plays often come in a book form as well. We may not be getting the random break into song in this version of the story, but sometimes reading a play can give you a different point of view than seeing it on stage can. Plays can often get a bad reputation because people's mind quickly go to Shakespeare, but don't let that discourage you! The great thing about reading plays is that they are usually quick reads and, with little description and all dialogue, a large amount of the scene is still left to the imagination of the reader. Even though Broadway is still closed, there are other ways to get our 'play' fix in.
Listed below are a few of our favorite plays. Do you have any recommendations for me? Email mkotelchuck@whatsupmag.com with your most recent read and a quick review about it to be featured!
A Raisin in the Sun by Lorraine Hansberry: This may feel like an old classic, but it is always worth the read. "Set on Chicago's South Side, the plot revolves around the divergent dreams and conflicts within three generations of the Younger family: son Walter Lee, his wife Ruth, his sister Beneatha, his son Travis and matriarch Lena, called Mama. When her deceased husband's insurance money comes through, Mama dreams of moving to a new home and a better neighborhood in Chicago. Walter Lee, a chauffeur, has other plans, however: buying a liquor store and being his own man. Beneatha dreams of medical school. The tensions and prejudice they face form this seminal American drama. Sacrifice, trust and love among the Younger family and their heroic struggle to retain dignity in a harsh and changing world is a searing and timeless document of hope and inspiration."
Harry Potter and the Cursed Child by J.K. Rowling: Couldn't get enough of the Harry Potter series? Upset when it all came to an end? Well there is on last story.... nineteen years later. "It was always difficult being Harry Potter and it isn’t much easier now that he is an overworked employee of the Ministry of Magic, a husband, and father of three school-age children.While Harry grapples with a past that refuses to stay where it belongs, his youngest son, Albus, must struggle with the weight of a family legacy he never wanted. As past and present fuse ominously, both father and son learn the uncomfortable truth: Sometimes, darkness comes from unexpected places.The playscript for Harry Potter and the Cursed Child was originally released as a "special rehearsal edition" alongside the opening of Jack Thorne’s play in London’s West End in summer 2016. Based on an original story by J.K. Rowling, John Tiffany, and Jack Thorne, the play opened to rapturous reviews from theatergoers and critics alike, while the official playscript became an immediate global bestseller."
Get Out: The Complete Annotated Screenplay by Jordan Peele: "Jordan Peele’s powerful thriller Get Out debuted in 2017 to enormous public and critical acclaim, a Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner? for the age of Obama and Trump that scared audiences and skewered white liberal pieties at the same time. Rather than rely on popular archetypes, Peele weaves together the material realities and daily manifestations of horror with sociopolitical fears and elements of true suspense, and combines them with pitch-perfect satire and a timely cultural critique. This companion paperback to the film presents Peele’s Oscar-winning screenplay alongside supplementary material. Featuring an essay by author and scholar Tananarive Due and in-depth annotations by the director, this publication is richly illustrated with more than 150 stills from the motion picture and presents alternate endings, deleted scenes and an inside look at the concepts and behind-the-scenes production of the film."
