An Apology for the Course and Outcome of Certain Events Delivered by Doctor John Faustus on This His Final Evening and The Hunchback Variations [Paperback]

Mickle Maher (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0970745842 | ISBN-13: 978-0970745842 | Publication Date: October 5, 2001 | Edition: 1

Two plays by Chicago playwright Mickle Maher. "An Apology..." is a brilliant retelling of the Faust legend. Dr. John Faustus apologizes to the audience for leaving the writing of his life to "long-winded hacks" and explains how Mephistopheles prevented him from recording his own story for posterity. In "The Hunchback Variations" Maher brings together composer Ludwig van Beethoven and Quasimodo, the Hunchback of Notre Dame, for a panel discussion on the pitfalls of artistic collaboration. Their attempts to create an enigmatic sound called for by a stage direction in Chekhov's "The Cherry Orchard" are thwarted by their deafness, unpleasant working conditions, and the fact that Beethoven has not yet finished reading the "The Cherry Orchard." Two funny, intelligent and highly original two-character plays.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"It's hard to miss Mickle Maher's brilliance in this ingenious retooling of the Faust legend." -- Chicago Reader

In An Apology..."a sublime environment is created, stakes are impressively high, and certain choice lines are unforgettable." -- The Village Voice, August, 2001

The Hunchback Variations "...leaves the audience shaking with tears of laughter...ingenious..." -- New City, September 6, 2001.

About the Author

Mickle Maher is a co-founder of Theater Oobleck and has worked in Chicago as an actor, director and playwright since 1987.

Product Details

• Paperback: 80 pages
• Publisher: Hope and Nonthings; 1 edition (October 5, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0970745842
• ISBN-13: 978-0970745842
• Product Dimensions: 8.2 x 5.4 x 0.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #942,985 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful Reading..., December 11, 2001

By 

Daniel Telfer (Chicago, IL United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: An Apology for the Course and Outcome of Certain Events Delivered by Doctor John Faustus on This His Final Evening and The Hunchback Variations (Paperback)

These plays read very well, and I have seen them both in their original runs. I was absolutely thrilled when this book came out: I had become a fan of Mickle's writing and anyone who has seen one of his plays can tell you his style begs to be printed and published. His use of language is very immediate and engaging to an audience or a reader.

An Apology... is a retelling of the Faustus legend (most often known in the works of Goethe and Marlowe). Faustus, in all versions, is the story of a scholar and scientist who finds he can achieve more and become infinitely wise if he summons the devil to be his servant. In this Faustus he is repentant, and on the day of his death, he is sent to a small group of strangers to say goodbye and apologize for not keeping a better diary detailng his days with the devil. At times it is hilarious (he comes back from a 7-11 several years in our future and presents us with "Budweisers", "In those days to come they call this beer the King"), yet it also hits notes of dramatic brilliance. Faustus must settle with dying and leaving only an apology, as "no God or demon ever apologized to anybody for anything".

The Hunchback Variations is written in the form of Mamet's Duck Variations, only here it is a recurring radio-style panel discussion led by The Hunchback of Notre Dame and Ludwig Von Beethoven. The arrive to discuss their failed attempt to re-create the stage direction in Anton Chekov's Cherry Orchard- "suddenly a distant sound is heard, coming as if out of the sky, like the sound of a string snapping, slowly and sadly dying away". The same spanse in time is presented in 11 versions, each revealing more about the collaboration and the friendship once shared between the hunchback and Ludwig.

It is very lucky that a local small press has gotten this printed and even more lucky that it is presented here so people anywhere can have access to it. If you love the theater or perform it yourself, this is the kind of new work that will shock you and your friends with it's value. Don't let it remain obscure to the world and your own tastes, it has a home in any collection.