Three Plays

Thorton Wilder is one of the best playrights of his generation. This book brings together three of his best plays. "Our Town" which is a play centered around one town, and the way life can change within it. "the Skin of Our Teeth", which centers around one family that is going through all the changes that have ever happened in the world, including the ice age, world war 2, the depression, and so on. And finally "the Matchmaker" which is not the best play, but is still worth reading. Thorton Wilder does an amazing job with character developments and sub-plots, and these three plays really show his genius.

Skin of Our Teeth and Our Town both were prize-winning plays. The Matchmaker became one of the most popular musicals of all time - Hello Dolly. Thornton Wilder's plays are in production at countless high schools across the country, and that's a pity - few students have the maturity or insight to bring these words strongly to life.Skin of Our Teeth, the story of the Antrobus family in stone age Atlantic City, NJ, deals with indomitable humanity, and how we can prevail against all odds, but especially against our own impulses. It also brings up the consolations of literature and of past times.Our Town is a simple little play about love and death, and how life is composed as a series of moments. It is so important to live in every, every, moment.The Matchmaker is about living life to the fullest, even in the midst of grief and aging.This makes these plays sound dreadfully simplistic, and full of high-school style morality. Thornton Wilder's writing is full of irony, wit, grace, kind humor, and style. His writing has a deceptive simplicity and rhythm. Read these plays to bring some beauty into your life.

Probably the most misread work since the Bible. These are great little plays, but for some reason anything that gets so thoroughly co-opted into popular culture (as these oft performed plays are) loses all literary value.I highly recommend that anyone who hasn't seen the Kirk Cameron/ Growing Pains production of Our Town already to read these. This collection is a wonderful exposition on the human condition. I was giddy for a week after first reading it.

I just saw the revival of "The Skin of Our Teeth" for free as part of the New York Shakespeare Festival in Central Park, and I can't begin to tell you how extraordinary it was! I immediately ran out and bought the play, in this edition of "3 Plays," and hearing it again in my head, I'm convinced that this is one of the best American plays I've ever come across. It is crazy and funny and complex; it reaches the heart and asks profound questions, from the meaning of life to the boundaries of theatre. Depicting the resilience and perseverance of the Antrobus family, who, along with their maid Sabina (a great, great part), represent all of humanity, "The Skin of Our Teeth" reminds us that, in spite of war and flood and all misery, "we have to go on for ages and ages yet." An awesome play.