Valhalla
by Paul Rudnick

Name: Valhalla
Brand: Paul Rudnick
SKU: 9780822220213
Rating: 3.68 (51 reviews)

Highlights

Small Cast

Female

Male

120 mins American Comedy

What readers are saying

Readers appreciate the quirky and humorous nature of the play, highlighting its creativity and poignant themes of hope and acceptance. The character doubling and witty dialogue are frequently noted as strengths, making it a unique theatrical experience. However, some feel that the broad humor may undermine the overall impact of the piece.

Quirky and funny characters Creative writing and staging Witty dialogue and relatable Unique storytelling with character doubling Broad humor undermines the piece Some find it a wonderful mess Feels dated to some viewers

Synopsis

parts for 4 men and 2 women.

VALHALLA intertwines two stories: the life of Ludwig of Bavaria, the 1880s Mad King responsible for building a series of storybook castles inspired by Wagnerian operas, and the fictional adventures of James Avery, a wild Texas teenager of the 1940s.

These two iconoclasts are tracked from childhood through their deaths, and while they embody separate eras, they are ultimately revealed as time-traveling soul mates.

The play explores questions of beauty and madness, as both Ludwig and James pursue lives of operatic passion, bringing them in contact with such diverse figures as a high-school quarterback, the prettiest girl in Dainsville, Texas, most of the characters of Lohengrin and princess Sophie, who declares herself "the loneliest humpback in Europe."

VALHALLA is a comic epic, confronting the price to be paid for wanting, and getting, everything you dream of.