The House of Blue Leaves (Plume) [Paperback]

John Guare (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0452259401 | ISBN-13: 978-0452259409 | Publication Date: March 1, 1987

Farce

Characters: 4 male, 6 female

Interior Set

Artie Shaugnessy is a songwriter with visions of glory. Toiling by day as a zoo-keeper, he suffers in seedy lounges by night, plying his wares at piano bars in Queens, New York where he lives with his wife, Bananas. Who is. Much to the chagrin of Artie's downstairs mistress, Bunny Flingus who'll sleep with him anytime but refuses to cook until they are married. On the day the Pope is making his first visit to the city, Artie's son Ronny goes AWOL from Fort Dix stowing a home made-bomb intended to blow up the Pope in Yankee Stadium. Also arriving are Artie's old school chum, now a successful Hollywood producer, Billy Einhorn with starlet girlfriend in tow, who holds the key to Artie's dreams of getting out of Queens and away from the life he so despises. But like many dreams, this promise of glory evaporates amid the chaos of ordinary lives.

Winner of the 1971 Critics Award and the Obie Award as Best American Play.

"A brilliant play...beautifully fashioned...Wacky and sometimes sad [with]... combined hilarity, poignancy, outrageous stage aside and tragedy." -The New York Daily News

"Enchantingly zany and original farce." -The New York Times

--This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

Editorial Reviews

From AudioFile

L.A. Theatre Works' presentation of Guare's Obie Award-winning comedy is first-rate. It takes place in the early 1960s in New York City on the day the pope is coming to town. The characters and the action run the gamut from desperate nuns, a political bombing, a GI headed for Vietnam, and a woman who strikes a bargain between sex and great cooking to a zookeeper who dreams of making it big as a songwriter and his schizophrenic wife, who is destined for an institution. Sharon Gless, Jessica Walter, and Ron Leibman deliver strong portraits of flawed characters--some funny, some despondent, some frustrated, and some hopeful. Their vocal characterizations--full of vitality--provide bittersweet glimpses into the lives of these unfulfilled characters. M.R.E. © AudioFile 2009, Portland, Maine --This text refers to the Audio CD edition.

Product Details

• Paperback: 254 pages
• Publisher: Plume (March 1, 1987)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0452259401
• ISBN-13: 978-0452259409
• Product Dimensions: 7.9 x 5.3 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,189,312 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

17 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Exellent Analysis, November 1, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: House of Blue Leaves, The (Paperback)

The House of Blue Leaves is an exellent critique of the desire to achieve celebrity in our society. The characters in this story, namely Artie and Ronnie, are searching out fame in their own way (writing music for motion pictures and blowing the pope sky high, respectivly) mainly to achieve some sort of validity in their lives. They believe that their existance is meaningless without the acknowledgement of others. Through sharp, and sometimes dry and cynical writing, Guare makes you feel for the characteres and leaves you stunned at the end. With it's assortment of colorful supporting characters it is both a very funny and a very sad work of art.

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The single greatest example modern theatre., January 20, 2000

By 

EMK - See all my reviews

This review is from: The House of Blue Leaves (Plume) (Paperback)

Guare's "House of Blue Leaves" is by far the most memorable, well-written, and exceptionally challenging play that I've yet to come across. Granted, the only production I've seen was an amateur presentation at a local performing arts center but, that aside, the content of Guare's play completely overshadowed any lackluster performances. As for the philosophy employed in so many recent films (Magnolia, Being John Malkovich) regarding self-affirmation through the powers of universal forces, "House of Blue Leaves" exemplifies this modernist philosophy through and through. Although "Six Degrees of Separation" is the more regarded of Guare's plays, HOBL is the most exceptionally subtle and quietly subversive. Very, very impressive work.

5.0 out of 5 stars Super, October 7, 2011

By 

Caleb - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: House of Blue Leaves, The (Paperback)

The servie was impecable, i recieved my script in less than a week! It was in great conditon,and now I can read one of my favorite plays ever! Thank you very much for the wonderful service.