Play Reading SIG |
Do you love reading plays? Our SIG gives participants a chance to read aloud and analyze scenes and characters from prize-winning plays. We meet once or twice per month for two hours, usually on a Friday afternoon, so as not to conflict with other OLLI courses. During the year we are open to suggestions as to which plays to read, while in the summer we choose plays that we can both read and view. We encourage our members to prepare and lead discussions on plays that interest them. Thriving on group participation, we allow two sessions to cover each one. Particular editions are selected that can be obtained online or through your local public library. We meet on Zoom, except in summer when we meet in-person or in a hybrid format (both in-person and Zoom). Please contact Alice Roth, Barbara Waldinger or Karel Fisher for more details or additional information about the Play Reading SIG. |
Schedule of Forthcoming Play Reading Events Except where otherwise noted, all meetings are via Zoom on Friday afternoons from 3:00 to 5:00 pm EST. Jan. 24 & 31: (Facilitator: Paula Kaplan-Reiss) Lend Me a Tenor by Ken Ludwig. Ludwig is an American playwright and this was his first hit play, opening in London in 1986 and in Broadway in 1989. The play won two Tony awards. The story: When a world-famous opera tenor is indisposed, his assistant steps in to take his place at the Cleveland Opera — with hilarious results. Lend Me a Tenor is showing at the Ghent Playhouse in February. Feb. 7 & 21: (Facilitator: Don Roth) The Beaux’ Strategem by George Farquar. This is an English Restoration comedy written by popular Irish dramatist George Farquar and first produced in London in 1707. The story: Two gentlemen, down on their luck, disguise themselves as a lord and servant, in hopes of ensnaring a wealthy heiress. Mar. 7 & 21: (Facilitator: Karel Fisher) Night of the Iguana by Tennessee Williams. This play by acclaimed American author Tennessee Williams began as a short story, was produced as a one-act in 1959, and later expanded into a three-act play, premiering on Broadway in 1961. The Oscar-winning film adaptation, directed by John Huston, appeared in 1964. Story: A disgraced minister, now working as a tour guide, brings a group of American women to a cheap Mexican hotel. Tensions rise among the guests and a captured iguana symbolizes their collective trapped state. Williams wrote: “This is a play about love in its purest terms." Apr. 11 & 25: (Facilitator: Alice Roth) Major Barbara by Bernard Shaw. Born in Ireland in 1856, Shaw is considered one of the greatest playwrights in the English language. A comedy and social satire, Major Barbara was first performed in London in 1905. Story: Barbara Undershaft, an idealistic young woman and Salvation Army major, clashes with her wealthy father, an arms manufacturer. What is the best way to help the poor? Faith and charity or capitalism? The play was adapted for film and appeared in 1941, starring Wendy Hiller and Rex Harrison, directed by Gabriel Pascal and edited by David Lean. Getting the Scripts We will be reading from the editions listed below. You may be able to find copies at your local public library. Lend Me a Tenor by Ken Ludwig. Concord Theatricals, Samuel French Acting Edition. Available for $10.95 here. The Beaux Stratagem by George Farquar. New Mermaids, Methuen Drama 2nd edition, 2005. The paperback is available for $13.95 from Amazon here. Be sure to get this annotated edition. The play has been adapted by Ken Ludwig (building on Thornton Wilder’s version), but we will be reading the original. Night of the Iguana by Tennessee Williams. New Directions, 2009. This paperback is available for $14.80 from Amazon here. This edition includes the short story and an introduction by a Williams scholar. Major Barbara by Bernard Shaw. Available for free on Project Gutenberg here. |
Theater Events Lend Me a Tenor, Ghent Playhouse, Ghent, NY, Feb. 7-9 and 14-16. Click here for tickets. We will organize a group of SIG members to see the play together and have a meal or drinks before or after the show. |
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