1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Stages of Grief for the Living and Dying, October 22, 2008
This review is from: The Shadow Box: A Drama in Two Acts (Paperback)
In 1969, Dr. Elizabeth Kubler-Ross wrote the groundbreaking book, On Death and Dying and named the five stages of grief that people who are dying go through, and not in an exact order. The five stages are denial, anger, bargaining, depression and acceptance. And, here, The Shadow Box by Michael Cristofer is about death and dying. The play earned the 1977 Pulitzer Prize and, a Tony Award in 1977.
The concept of the play is a departure from the standard storyline; it is a series of interviews and conversations of three sets of loved ones of those who are terminally ill. An interviewer is a member of the character list. The conversations of the loved ones remain separated, however, with great skill, the writer has the characters intermingle the conversations, but we view that as voices dramatically coming together. Shadow Box theme qualifies as a departure in theatre drama.
Written in late 70s, the unique and dramatic play takes place in cottages that are separate from the hospital, cottages where those dying go when there is no more help, but hope. You can't help reading this without thinking of your own mortality, or if young enough, someone close to you.
Joe is dying, and Maggie and son Steven come 3,000 miles to visit. Maggie is in denial about Joe and hasn't told their son. Aside from denial, Maggie tries bargaining with him to come home.
Brian's and Mark, a gay couple, are paid a visit from Brian's ex-wife, a whorish, rough talking, hard drinker. Mark deals with his anger knowing Brian will die.
And the third couple, aging Felicity, a cursing angry woman of about 60 is led around in a wheelchair by her daughter Agnes. Agnes reveals that Felicity is forever asking about Claire, a younger daughter who is dead. Agnes learns that the bargaining Felicity has made is to wait on dying until she she's Claire again.
There is a film version of The Shadow Box, which is directed by the late, great Paul Newman and stars Joanne Woodward, who plays the gay man, Brian's former wife, although in the film version, she is not as crude as the book version.
The Shadow Box.
Another recommendation on stages of grief (for the living), is
'Night Mother. Marsha Norman's Pulitzer Prize winning book that focuses on a daughter planning her suicide and her mother going through stages of grief trying to keep her from doing it. See the VHS Sissy Spacek and Anne Bancroft's amazing performances in
'night, Mother (1986)......Rizzo.
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2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Truly, a life Changer, May 4, 2001
This review is from: The Shadow Box: A Drama in Two Acts (Paperback)
I read this play years ago and liked it... But, it was not until I was diagnosed with Lupus and Epilepsy that I truly fell in love with the words contained within the play. Life is precious and sometimes short... As quoted from the play " Your whole life goes by---it feels like it was only a minute. You try to remember what it was you believed in. What was so important...you want to make a difference."
Well, I can guarantee that if you or a loved on is suffering from anything ranging from Cancer to a lost spirit, this play will change your way of thinking about every day life. Don't just take it as a play... Take it as advice you NEED to live by.
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