I ordered the manuscript copy of "Next Fall" from Dramatists, which is the more expensive option if you want to read the script right away--which I did.
From what I'd heard and the response it received, it seemed like the sort of play I'd love to produce one day, and since I haven't heard about anybody else in Rhode Island interested in doing it, I figured I could wait for the rights to be available and then go ahead with it.
Then I read the script.
And I was...disappointed.
For one thing, I didn't find the play to be all that original, nor did I find its approach to its subject to be original. A self-hating gay man and the partner trying to change him has been done many, many times. Plus, it's been done better.
The play itself I found to be incredibly repetitive. The writing was smart, at times, but overall I just found that the whole thing could have been a one-act and been just as effective.
What bothered me most about the play, however, was the message at the end.
SPOILER ALERT
I didn't like that it seemed to be criticizing the non-believer in the relationship. I found myself really disliking Luke a lot, even though I could tell I was supposed to be more frustrated with Adam. Adam was definitely insensitive to Luke's beliefs, but I found myself agreeing with Adam most of the time.
At the end of the play, the whole Adam-finds-faith thing really put me off. What's wrong with Adam not being religious? What's wrong with anybody not being religious? I liked that he used Luke's words to help comfort his father, but I didn't see why the entire play all seemed to be leading up to Adam having a revelation.
I thought up until the ending both sides were well-represented, and then all of a sudden, it became that Luke was right, and Adam was wrong. I really didn't like that.
Plus, I didn't understand the point of the mother, or Holly, or even Brandon really, even though I really liked the scene between him and Adam.
Overall, I just wasn't impressed. Maybe it lacks something in reading it, or maybe it's just that in performing it you're able to milk the tear ducts a little more and hide some of the problems with the script.
One of the reasons I like reading scripts before I see shows is because it's harder to hide the problems when the words are sitting right in front of you.
I'm sure there wasn't a dry eye in the house when Adam cradled Butch and told him Luke's last words, but one emotional moment isn't enough for me to fall in love with a show.
Actually, it wouldn't even be enough for me to buy a ticket to one.
So, you who have seen the show, what do you think?
Am I off-base here?
From what I'd heard and the response it received, it seemed like the sort of play I'd love to produce one day, and since I haven't heard about anybody else in Rhode Island interested in doing it, I figured I could wait for the rights to be available and then go ahead with it.
Then I read the script.
And I was...disappointed.
For one thing, I didn't find the play to be all that original, nor did I find its approach to its subject to be original. A self-hating gay man and the partner trying to change him has been done many, many times. Plus, it's been done better.
The play itself I found to be incredibly repetitive. The writing was smart, at times, but overall I just found that the whole thing could have been a one-act and been just as effective.
What bothered me most about the play, however, was the message at the end.
SPOILER ALERT
I didn't like that it seemed to be criticizing the non-believer in the relationship. I found myself really disliking Luke a lot, even though I could tell I was supposed to be more frustrated with Adam. Adam was definitely insensitive to Luke's beliefs, but I found myself agreeing with Adam most of the time.
At the end of the play, the whole Adam-finds-faith thing really put me off. What's wrong with Adam not being religious? What's wrong with anybody not being religious? I liked that he used Luke's words to help comfort his father, but I didn't see why the entire play all seemed to be leading up to Adam having a revelation.
I thought up until the ending both sides were well-represented, and then all of a sudden, it became that Luke was right, and Adam was wrong. I really didn't like that.
Plus, I didn't understand the point of the mother, or Holly, or even Brandon really, even though I really liked the scene between him and Adam.
Overall, I just wasn't impressed. Maybe it lacks something in reading it, or maybe it's just that in performing it you're able to milk the tear ducts a little more and hide some of the problems with the script.
One of the reasons I like reading scripts before I see shows is because it's harder to hide the problems when the words are sitting right in front of you.
I'm sure there wasn't a dry eye in the house when Adam cradled Butch and told him Luke's last words, but one emotional moment isn't enough for me to fall in love with a show.
Actually, it wouldn't even be enough for me to buy a ticket to one.
So, you who have seen the show, what do you think?
Am I off-base here?
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