Plays
by David Mamet

Name: Plays
Brand: David Mamet
SKU: 9780413645906
Rating: 3.73 (87 reviews)

Highlights

American

What readers are saying

Readers appreciate the collection of plays, particularly praising Mamet's unique dialogue style and character interactions. Many find standout pieces like 'American Buffalo' and 'The Water Engine' to be highlights, while others express mixed feelings towards some of the lesser-known works. Overall, the collection is recognized for its cleverness and depth of character exploration, even if not every play resonates with every reader.

Unique dialogue style Strong character interactions Clever commentary on society Some plays feel lackluster Mixed enjoyment of lesser-known works

Synopsis

Duck Variations: "A brilliant little play...about two old men sitting on a park bench discussing ducks" (Guardian); Sexual Perversity in Chicago, bar-room banter and sexual exploits in Mamet's home town "sweet sad understanding and utterly believable" (Chicago Daily News); Squirrels is a sequence of philosophising between a younger writer, an older writer and a cleaning lady which "memorably captures the agony of the creative process" (Daily Telegraph); American Buffalo, one of Mamet's most famous plays, is set in a junk shop where Three small-time crooks plot to carry out the midnight robbery of a coin collection - in the hours leading up to the heist, friendship becomes the victim in a conflict between loyalty and business.

The Water Engine is "a propulsive, kaleidoscopic nightmare" and Mr Happiness is a short ironic monologue by a Radio DJ commenting on the letters from his listeners.