Not About Nightingales
by Tennessee Williams

Not About Nightingales Book Cover
Not About Nightingales Cover

Highlights

1930sReduced Casting (Doubling Possible)Interior SetPeriod CostumesAmerican

Awards & Recognition

Tony Award

NOMINEE! 1999 Tony Award for Best Play

What readers are saying

Readers appreciate the powerful storytelling and intense themes in this early Tennessee Williams play. Many find its critique of prison brutality particularly relevant, despite occasional criticisms about character development. Overall, it evokes strong emotional responses and resonates deeply with audiences.

Powerful storytellingTimely critique of prison brutalityIntense and engagingCharacter development lacking

Synopsis

Paperback.

Press Reviews

"Enthralling...A feverish, full strength compassion for people in cages makes Nightingales fly toward a realm of pain and beauty that is the province of greatness...The emotions, both savage and painfully delicate, that saturate this work are arguably more rich and varied in tone than those of any American dramatist...The voices of Williams's entrapped nightingales...refuse to fade when the play is plunged into its concluding darkness."

— The New York Times

"The best American play so far this season...It adds to the reputation of one of America's greatest playwrights."

— The New York Daily News

"Fascinating."

— The New York Post

"Changes our perception of a major writer and still packs a hefty political punch."

— London Independent

Characters

Character
THE VOICE OF THE LORELEI
MRS. BRISTOL
EVA CRANE
JIM ALLISON

(Canary Jim)

BOSS WHALEN

the warden

JACK BRISTOL

(Sailor Jack)

SCHULTZ

a guard

BUTCH O'FALLON
THE QUEEN
JOE
MCBURNEY

a guard

OLIVER ARMSTEAD

(Ollie)

SHAPIRO
JEREMY TROUT

(Swifty)

MEX
KRAUSE
ALBERTS
TOM
CHAPLAIN
REVEREND HOOKER
GOLDIE
CHICK
GUARDS, CONVICTS, TROOPERS

Publication

PublisherSamuel French
Year1999
BindingPaperback
EditionFirst Edition
Pages93
PlaceNew York
LanguageEnglish
ISBN-139780573627118
ISBN-100573627118
LCCN708997
LCCPS3545.I5365 N66 1999
DCC812/.54

Not About Nightingales is a American play written by Tennessee Williams and published by Samuel French in New York (1999).

Digital editions available on Amazon Kindle.

Community Reviews

No community reviews yet

Rating

3.9

301 ratings·4 reviews

Review

Buy Play

First Edition

Samuel French · 1999 · 93 pp

From $25.50 total

Digital prices may vary by region and tax jurisdiction.

Performance Rights

Available for Licensing
Amateur Only
Fee:Minimum Fee: $130 per performance

Restrictions: Major Markets Only (US) / Standard Restriction (UK)

Apply for Rights

Similar Plays

Plays with similar themes, style, and content.

More from Tennessee Williams

More plays from Tennessee Williams that we think you'll enjoy.