Customer Reviews

Naked Masks: Five Plays (Meridian)

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

After reading these plays, I can understand why Pirandello won the Nobel Prize. All of the plays deal with illusion and reality in ways that contemporary writers still struggle with. Both Six Characters in Search of an Author, and Each in His Own Way play with the idea that the audience willfuly suspends reality in order to watch a play (or a movie for that matter). He plays with the idea that what something appears to be is as important, if not more important, that what it really is. Again, illusion versus reality. Although all of the plays were interesting,and entertaining, the two standouts were "Six Characters...," and "It is So! (If You Think So)." The former deals with an acting troupe that is approached by six characters who have been conceived by a writer, but not fully realized. The Characters attempt to get the manager of the troupe to write their script, and thus give them artistic life. "It is So..." deals with the nature of how we know what we know, and how we decide what to believe in terms of what is real and what is not.

The only problem with this collection of plays (and the only reason that I didn't give it five stars) is that in the introduction to "Six Characters..." the editor discusses "Six Characters in Search of an Author," "Each in His own Way," and "tonight We Improvise," as a trilogy. He takes the time to discuss the relationship between these plays, and yet "Tonight We Improvise" is omitted from the collection. Thus, we are left with only the first two plays of the trilogy. What makes it worse is that they are both excellent plays (making me wish I didn't have to scrounge up another book to get the third). Other than that, this is an outstanding collection. Eric Bentley (the editor) writes an informative introduction to Pirandello, and adds Pirandello's own thoughts on "Six Characters...," as well as biographical information on the playwrite, in the appendix. I would recomend this for people who are, or aren't familiar with the work of Luigi Pirandello. It's definitely worth the read.

This volume is written in an easy-to-read belles lettres style. The major
works are:
o Liola
o It Is So (If You Think So)
o Henry IV
o Six Characters in Search of an Author
o Each In His Own Way

The play entitled "It Is So" begins in the parlor in the house of
Commendatore Agazzi. There is much small talk leading up to a crescendo
" No. I am she whom you believe me to be." by Signora Ponza
" And there my friends, you have the truth!" by Laudisi

A famous line portrays the human empathy which is a condition precedent
for getting along in this world.

" Signora Frola [rising] . Oh, yes, yes! But, remember I told you he is
such a good man! Believe me, he couldn't be better, really! We all have
our weaknesses in this world, haven't we? And, we get along best by having
a little indulgence for one another."

A beauty of this work is seen in the careful emulation of the colloquial
Italian spoken among the working middle class families. In addition,
the work is replete with familiar neighborhood scenes, stories and plots.
Luigi Pirandello was born in Sicily in 1867 (just after the Civil War) and died in 1936 just under 7 decades. He won the Nobel Prize just two years
before he died.

Whenever I see anything either written by Pirandello or edited by Bentley my interest is immediately piqued. This volume, however, goes above expectations. The Nobel Prize winning Pirandello delves into the nature both of theatre and of human beings. My favorite of the plays here is "Six Characters in Search of an Author," which somehow straddles the border between realism and absurdism in exploring psyche and dramatic construct. For fans of modern theatre and renaissance drama alike this book makes an excellent addition to the home library.

I would recommend this collection to anyone interested in modern drama. Focus particularly on Henry IV. The play in itself is incredibly bizarre upon the first reading. Upon later readings, however, deeper meanings arise. A worthy read.