36 Views [Paperback]

Naomi Iizuka (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 24, 2003

In this acclaimed play, Naomi Iizuka has created a carefully textured exploration of the meaning of truth-not just in the art world, but in personal relationships as well. At its heart is an art dealer and an art historian who discover what they think is an ancient manuscript-a priceless Japanese pillow book. As they try to learn whether it's authentic, their search becomes an erotic game of greed, love, and mental hide-and-seek.

Editorial Reviews

Review

Chock full of charm, intelligence, and compassion. (Village Voice)

About the Author

Naomi Iizuka is the author of Polaroid Stories (recipient of the 1998 PEN Center USA West Award for Drama). Her other plays include Language of Angels, War of the Worlds (in collaboration with Anne Bogart and The SITI Company), Skin, and Tattoo Girl. Her work has been produced at Berkeley Repertory Theatre, Actor's Theatre of Louisville, Campo Santo + Intersection for the Arts in San Francisco, Dallas Theatre Center, Soho Repo, the Edinburgh Festival, and BAM. Iizuka is the recipient of a Whiting Award, a Gerbode Foundation Fellowship, an NEA/TCG Artist-in-Residence grant, a McKnight Fellowship, a Rockefeller Foundation grant, Princeton University's Hodder Fellowship, and a Jerome Playwriting Fellowship. She is a member of New Dramatists.

Product Details

• Paperback: 105 pages
• Publisher: Overlook TP; 1 edition (June 24, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1585673838
• ISBN-13: 978-1585673834
• Product Dimensions: 8.2 x 5.5 x 0.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,487,904 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Urbane & Erudite, January 14, 2008

By 

Lee Armstrong (Winterville, NC United States) - See all my reviews
(TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)    (VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: 36 Views (Paperback)

Naomi Iizuka's "36 Views" is a gripping play in 36 scenes. The title comes from a painter's study of Mount Fuji that became known as the 36 views. The play follows Darius Wheeler who is an art dealer that specializes in Asian antiquities. A rare manuscript is presented by his assistant John Bell. Bell betrays his employer by attesting that it is genuine. Wheeler buys it for a mere million dollars from a mysterious seller who is Claire Tsong, the artist to generate the impressive fake. Owen Matthiassen is a doctoral friend who consults with his former student Wheeler. Setsuko Hearn is also a brilliant doctor in Asian art who comments throughout on the authenticity. Meanwhile an undercover reporter Elizabeth Newman-Orr is running a sting on Wheeler's operation while she has a secret love relationship with Claire Tsong. There are many period references to Japanese art. The theme which I pulled from the drama was that even inauthentic things, whether it be a piece of art or a love relationship, can still have value when looked at from another view. Iizuka cleverly constructs her drama into the 36-scene format that mirrors the title metaphor. The original production was by Public Theatre/New York Shakespeare Festival. It is also printed in a volume New Playwrights: The Best Plays of 2001 (New Playwrights). Iizuka's drama is urbane & erudite. For a creative artistic director, this would be a lovely challenge. Enjoy!

1 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful, September 10, 2003

By 

Ann M Eadie (Jacksonville, Florida United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: 36 Views (Paperback)

and beautiful...and amazing...like all of Iizuka's work. Highly recommended.