Customer Reviews

A Soldier's Play (Dramabook)

5 star:		(11)
4 star:		(8)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

"A Soldier's Play," by Charles Fuller, was presented by the Negro Ensemble Company in New York City in 1981, and went on to win a Pulitzer Prize. A film version, retitled "A Soldier's Story," was directed by Norman Jewison. This play takes place in 1944 (during World War II) at Fort Neal, Louisiana. Fuller takes us into an all-Black unit, commanded by a white officer, in the segregated army.

The play begins with the murder of one of its principal characters: Tech/Sergeant Vernon Waters, by an unknown killer. Waters' story is recreated in flashbacks; the play is essentially the story behind the investigation into the crime. The situation on the base, which is already hot with racial tension, intensifies when an African-American officer is assigned to the case.

Fuller has taken an explosive combination of elements and from them fashioned a truly gripping piece of dramatic art. Suspense, vivid dialogue, memorable characters, and penetrating insights all combine to make this a truly remarkable play. This is also one of those excellent plays which also succeeds as a text for readers.

This is a compelling look at the tensions and controversies surrounding the segregated army. Fuller is particularly effective at demonstrating the corrosive effects of racism on both Blacks and whites. Waters is one of the most powerfully tragic figures in all of American drama. I highly recommend "A Soldier's Play"; it is one of the great literary works about military life.

A Great murder mystery for those who are intrigued by mysteries and other themes such as suspense, betrayal, and loyalty. For people who are not into mysteries. This novel has a combination of mysteries and actual historical events which took place such as World War I which took place during the late 1914's and the Ku Klux Klan . The first page of the play has a hook which draws you further into in the book and makes you want to read more and find out "who done it."
This book could also be compared to "The Murder on the Orient Express" by Agatha Christie with the same story line and events but with different setting and plot.
BUT!!!! Even though the play has many good scenes it would have been better if acted out rather than to have been read. It also gets somewhat boring and confusing towards the end because you might have for gotten but everything comes together during the last few pages. I found the book to be a page turner with new clues, hints and evidence in each page, and I would give it four out of five stars because it has a good plot and storyline.

A Soldiers Play is one of the best war stories that i have ever read in my life. If you are looking for a mystery book with twists and turn, this is the book you have been looking for.This book reaches many points that you may not expect. A Soldiers Play has a great deal of Loyalty, Betrayal, and Racism.By the time you finish reading the book,you will detect those plus more.What really made the book good for me was that i had the oppurtunity to act out one of the roles in my class room. I played one of the main roles "Vernon C. Waters". When you act it out, it gives you the chance to know the character better

This play By Charles Fuller is a really interesting play that leaves you in AH. This play is based around the murder of sargent Waters who was a black man. Throughout the play clues are thrown at you that just make you want to turn the page.During the time period of the play there was still descrimition aganist blacks so that also adds to the action and the main conflicts in the book.
Otherwise reading this play it is great to act out it gives you a viratery of characters to choose from and diffrent emotions to put across. I say that solider's play is a great book if you like shows like law and order and mystery soliving movies. I grantee if you purchase this book you will not be disapointed. Also if you are into movies you can check out a solider's story based on a solider's play.

The drama A soldier's play was an amazing book. Which is about sergeant that betrayed his men that unlimitedly led to his death now Devenport which is a black lawyer has to come and sort out this mess with a racist captian Taylor on his back. The left my at the edge of my seat anxious to turn the next page. But the ending will left me asking for more

This play was a good one, very intresting. This play written by Charles Fuller. There was a lot of drama, the characters would act like in real life. I liked the topics that were being used for example racism, betrayal and friendship. I liked this play because their was a lot of action the racism exicted between the same race. Eventhough their were events I didn't like the play was good. Sargeant Water did a good job on doing his role. This play is about a Sargeant that treated his same race with no respect and in which at the their was a murdured and someone put to jail. This play was so good that you would want more.

A Soldier's Play by Charles Fuller is a great book if you enjoy reading books that have suspense. This book takes place in 1944 Fort Neal, Louisiana when racism was a big issue during World War 2. Tech Sergeant Vernon C Waters was a shot with a .45 caliber gun the person or persons involved in his murder are unknown. Waters enlisted men think that the Ku Klux Klan killed him. Then the book leads into the investigation of Captain Richard Davenport and how he uncovers the mystery. Even though this book is short it includes a lot of details that you need to pay a close mind to. I enjoyed reading this book was a page turner. It kept you guessing until the end. I would recommend it anybody that enjoys reading a good book.

This book also reminds of another book I am currently reading The Color Purple by Alice Walker. This book also deals with racism but in South Carolina. A young girl named Celie, is raped by her father and some what has to grow up, and raise her siblings at the same time. She goes through a lot of things while growing up. She discovers secrets and lies that were kept away from her. Celie gets hit even by her own husband whom she calls Mr._. Mr.'s son Harpo marries young women named Sofia. At one point she gets arrested and becomes a maid for a white lady. After being scared, abused, and unhappy Celie gains power thanks to Shug Avery, a beautiful blues singer, which helped her and showed her to love and be happy.

K. DOMINGUEZ

A Great murder mystery for those who are intrigued by mysteries and other themes such as suspense, betrayal, and loyalty. For people who are not into mysteries. This novel has a combination of mysteries and actual historical events which took place such as World War I which took place during the late 1914's and the Ku Klux Klan . The first page of the play has a hook which draws you further into in the book and makes you want to read more and find out "who done it."
This book could also be compared to "The Murder on the Orient Express" by Agatha Christie with the same story line and events but with different setting and plot.
BUT!!!! Even though the play has many good scenes it would have been better if acted out rather than to have been read. It also gets somewhat boring and confusing towards the end because you might have for gotten but everything comes together during the last few pages. I found the book to be a page turner with new clues, hints and evidence in each page, and I would give it four out of five stars because it has a good plot and storyline.

A Soldier's Play by Charles Fuller is a good book to read if you like suspense. I liked the book because it kept me interested in what was going to happen next. The book is based on the murder of Sergeant Waters, a black sergeant during World War II. During this time period racism was occurring and the Ku Klux Klan were very popular. When the other soldiers first learn of the murder they suspect the Ku Klux Klan. Captain Davenport is a black man sent to investigate the murder. Many people think he will not succeed because he would not get any cooperation from the white soldiers. Read A Soldier's Play and find out who murdered Sergeant Water. Who's the killer of the Sergeant, the Ku Klux Klan or the unexpected? Can Captain Davenport, a black man find the killer?

I love this play and am reading it again in search of a play to direct in a coming season. Fabulous piece for men. A very good whodunnit that also deals with the serious subject of prejudice and self-hatred. I first came to know this story through the movie, "A Soldier's Story." I just wish the play had the same great ending as the movie. In the movie, the murderer is confronted; in the play, he deals with it but offstage. Kind of a let-down. But still, great story worth reading.