The Baltimore Waltz and Other Plays [Paperback]

Paula Vogel (Author), David Savran (Introduction)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 1, 1995

The first major collection of plays by leading lesbian playwright Paula Vogel.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

In this remarkable 1992 play, a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize, author Paula Vogel goes inside the soul of her central character, a woman caring for a brother who has AIDS. Exhausted, the woman sleeps and dreams that she is the one with the incurable disease, and she's dragging her healthy brother along on one last grand tour of Europe to see all the wonderful things she'd always longed to see--and to find a mysterious doctor who may have the cure for her illness. Many scenes have the peculiar logic and sidestepping transitions of a dream. The reader's imagination is called upon to supply sets and costumes for the many strange and wonderful locales of the play. Vogel supplies the empathy and heartbreaking love that only a sister can have for a precious baby brother who is slipping away between her helpless fingers. Also in this collection are four early Vogel works: Hot 'N' Throbbin, And Baby Makes Seven, The Oldest Profession, and Desdemona.

About the Author

Paula Vogel is the author of How I Learned to Drive (Pulitzer Prize 1998), The Baltimore Waltz and The Mineola Twins, among other plays.

Product Details

• Paperback: 300 pages
• Publisher: Theatre Communications Group (November 1, 1995)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1559361093
• ISBN-13: 978-1559361095
• Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 5.4 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #148,385 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #54 in Books > Literature & Fiction > Drama > Anthologies

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars wonderful, January 3, 2001

By 

"[e-mail]" (springfield, Ohio United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Baltimore Waltz and Other Plays (Paperback)

'the baltimore waltz' has been one of my favourite plays from the first time i read it. this compilation has a wonderful variety and shows what range vogel has as a writer. 'and baby makes seven' and 'the oldest profession' are both a riot o laughs. 'hot'n'throbbing' is a disturbing yet much needed look at domestic violence. (i bet the NEA folks loved it. ha!) by reading any of her plays, you quickly see that vogel is a well read and intelligent writer (a playread as well as a playwright!) that expresses her opinions in a way that is clear aand inspiring. skip the introduction: the shmuck writing it has no idea what he is talking about and the plays are a better read.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Fantastique!, August 9, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: The Baltimore Waltz and Other Plays (Paperback)

This was the third play I read by Paula Vogel (How I learned to Drive/Mineola Twins). This play was amazing. Mixing humor and drama, I wanted to cry but couldn't stop laughing. This is a truly amazing play and I would recomened it to anyone who loved plays and loves theatre.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars These plays suggest the rise of a major American playwright, July 26, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: The Baltimore Waltz and Other Plays (Paperback)

The depth and breadth of these plays go beyond the gender politics and current issues that lie at the heart of these plays--to say that "Waltz" is a play about AIDS is like saying that Moby Dick is about fishing! The plays combine a deft wit with a warmth uncharacteristic for plays with such style. These early plays suggest the talent that will make Vogel a major American playwright for years to come.