BEST AMERICAN PLAYS 5TH SERIES

Although I have not finished this book, I felt it important to list the plays and playwrights. This series by John Gassner has a thorough introduction on this volume and it includes mention of many other plays. The years range from 1957 to 1963. Each play lists the original cast members on opening and Gassner provides an introduction to each. Included are some of the more popular plays: Tennesse Williams' "Night of the Iguana"; Edward Albee's "Who is Afraid of Virginia Woolf" the lengthy drama on marital conflict and Herb Gardner's "A Thousand Clowns" and an excellent play by William Inge "Dark at the Top of the Stairs", a coming-of age story, adultery, rifts and anguish between children and the adults and tragedy. A real family drama exists here. One of the best plays I have read, is Morton Wishengrad's "The Rope Dancers" which tells the story of an 11-year old girl born with six fingers on one hand. Her mother taught her to hide it because she labeled it shame and god's punishment from the father's infidelity and her own lust, on the night of the girl's conception. Ketti Frings' Look Homeward, Angel; Eugene O'Neill's "Touch of a Poet"; Tad Mosel's "All The Way Home". Robert Anderson's "Silent Night, Holy Night", at an inn on a quiet Christmas Eve, a relationship develops between two lonely people, both have respective spouses. A unique cast of characters is in William Saroyan's "Cave Dwellers"; a mix of hasbeens take refuge in an abandoned theatre for the arts. This is quite interesting and filled with Saroyan's brand of philosophy. William Gibson's "Two for the Seesaw"; Jean Kerr "Mary Mary"; Arthur Kopit's "Oh Dad, Poor Dad, Mamma's Hung You in the Closet and I Feel So Sad" Tennessee Williams' "Orpheus Descending" Paddy Chayefsky's "Gideon" ; Donald Macleish"s "J.B." and Gore Vidal's "The Best Man" .....MzRizz