the night thoreau spent in jail

[shrmn8rpoptart]

i just saw this play at my college last night. i kind of liked it. the first act was rather good, and touches on thoreau's philosophy quite well. the second act, meh, it seems like they tried to speak out against too many things (materialism, commercialism, slavery, racism, war, government intrusion into private citizens lives) and kind of misses at some points.

anyone else seen this play and have any thoughts?

 

[Cleasai]

I've never even heard of it. And to think I used to be a theatre junkie

Who's it written by?

 

[verte76]

I'm a big fan of Thoreau's so I'd like to see this.

 

[shrmn8rpoptart]

I've never even heard of it. And to think I used to be a theatre junkie

Who's it written by?

it's written by jerome lawrence and robert e. lee.

i have to say, the more i think about it, the more i really like the first act. the second act however still seems kind of distant.

and verte, i've never really studied thoreau a whole lot, so i'm not sure how in depth it goes...but as a newcomer to thoreau, the play did spark some interest towards transcendentalism.

 

[U2democrat]

I read the play in english last year. It was ok, kind of bored me. Maybe if I had actually seen the play it would be different.

 

[shrmn8rpoptart]

I read the play in english last year. It was ok, kind of bored me. Maybe if I had actually seen the play it would be different.

see, i don't think reading it would have held my attention either...but they did a really good job with the lighting effects, setting up the different scenes and whatnot.

having not seen a play since high school (sorry, i would much rather go to a game or a concert) i have to say i was really surprised that i liked it even as much as i did.

 

[tennispunk]

Does this include the infamous exchange with Ralph Waldo Emerson?

 

[U2democrat]

i don't remember..........but i think it does.

 

[shrmn8rpoptart]

Does this include the infamous exchange with Ralph Waldo Emerson?

um, i think so, the one where he dresses him down for not speaking out on the war? if that's what you meant, then yeah it's there.

oh and tennispunk, do you play tennis in college? i just thought with the name and all...

 

[tennispunk]

Yes that is the one I mean--
"What are you doing in there?"
to which Thoreau replied, "What are you doing out there?"
I don't usually care for US history, but that's a great anecdote.

And no I don't play on my university team, but I do play at midtown tennis club in chicago......haha, far too much.

 

[shrmn8rpoptart]

that was a great part...it came midway through the second act

that's cool, what level? i am a 3.5/4.0

 

[tennispunk]

haha this totally has nothing to do with the thread, but whatever
i play 3.0-3.5 right now...i really need to work on my serve and then i'll move up
tennis is amazing