The Vietnamization of New Jersey (An American Tragedy). [Paperback]

Christopher Durang (Author), Christopher Durang (Author)

Product Details

• Paperback: 72 pages
• Publisher: Dramatists Play Service, Inc. (January 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0822212080
• ISBN-13: 978-0822212089
• Product Dimensions: 7.4 x 5.1 x 0.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,295,150 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Classic Durang, March 3, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: The Vietnamization of New Jersey (An American Tragedy). (Paperback)

"The Vietnamization of New Jersey (An American Tragedy)" is a genuinely funny play in the classic Christopher Durang style. Still, it is plagued by a problem I have noticed as prominent in his other works: Durang can't end his plays. In this one, the ending is strangely incompatible with the rest of the play and has a bad plot. Sadly, the same applies to nearly all his work I have read; "Titanic," one of his more unsuccessful works, had all the characters change personas at the end and do very strange things, and "'Dentity Crisis" had a sudden change in the characters too. In fact, of all Durang's work that I have read or seen performed (a total of nine or ten), the only two plays which do not feature incoherent endings are "Beyond Therapy" and "Sister Mary Ignatius Explains It All For You," which are easily his best. The verdict? "Vietnamization" is a good play, with lots of humor and a hilarious analysis of America, but the poor climax brings down the total.