Observations of an Orchestrated Catastrophe
This anthology of plays, written—and sometimes directed, often performed—by Jenny Magnus is a deep compendium of an influential artist’s oeuvre from early to mid-career. The book presents 9 plays (see the table of contents) as well as 2 introductory essays: one by the playwright introducing the 2nd reprint, and one by Theater & Performance critic Achy Obejas with an afterword by Theater Director Stefan Brün. / 325 pages; First Pub. 2014 / Reprint 2021
“In these plays, Magnus is asking us to meet her intelligence, her wit, the naked soul of her unknowables with our own because, in her work, the question is the quest. Like Brecht, she uses music, text, broad characters, very few props. Her people are curious and smart and very funny. They are always out on a limb, divulging something terribly embarrassing. They use a lot of words, or very few. Metaphors are often over-the-top, but particulars can be few. The fourth wall, when it’s there, is just a flimsy film -- which means the performers who take on these stories must be experienced high-flyers, actors who know the consequences of working without a net. In Magnus’ stories, characters have unexplained encounters that are so lively and absurd that it takes a moment to realize they are in pain.…There’s just no rest for the lazy in these scripts. Here is the work of an artist as courageous as you’ll ever experience. Here is the work of an artist timeless and true. Relish it. - Achy Obejas Oakland, California
This anthology of plays, written—and sometimes directed, often performed—by Jenny Magnus is a deep compendium of an influential artist’s oeuvre from early to mid-career. The book presents 9 plays (see the table of contents) as well as 2 introductory essays: one by the playwright introducing the 2nd reprint, and one by Theater & Performance critic Achy Obejas with an afterword by Theater Director Stefan Brün. / 325 pages; First Pub. 2014 / Reprint 2021
“In these plays, Magnus is asking us to meet her intelligence, her wit, the naked soul of her unknowables with our own because, in her work, the question is the quest. Like Brecht, she uses music, text, broad characters, very few props. Her people are curious and smart and very funny. They are always out on a limb, divulging something terribly embarrassing. They use a lot of words, or very few. Metaphors are often over-the-top, but particulars can be few. The fourth wall, when it’s there, is just a flimsy film -- which means the performers who take on these stories must be experienced high-flyers, actors who know the consequences of working without a net. In Magnus’ stories, characters have unexplained encounters that are so lively and absurd that it takes a moment to realize they are in pain.…There’s just no rest for the lazy in these scripts. Here is the work of an artist as courageous as you’ll ever experience. Here is the work of an artist timeless and true. Relish it. - Achy Obejas Oakland, California
This anthology of plays, written—and sometimes directed, often performed—by Jenny Magnus is a deep compendium of an influential artist’s oeuvre from early to mid-career. The book presents 9 plays (see the table of contents) as well as 2 introductory essays: one by the playwright introducing the 2nd reprint, and one by Theater & Performance critic Achy Obejas with an afterword by Theater Director Stefan Brün. / 325 pages; First Pub. 2014 / Reprint 2021
“In these plays, Magnus is asking us to meet her intelligence, her wit, the naked soul of her unknowables with our own because, in her work, the question is the quest. Like Brecht, she uses music, text, broad characters, very few props. Her people are curious and smart and very funny. They are always out on a limb, divulging something terribly embarrassing. They use a lot of words, or very few. Metaphors are often over-the-top, but particulars can be few. The fourth wall, when it’s there, is just a flimsy film -- which means the performers who take on these stories must be experienced high-flyers, actors who know the consequences of working without a net. In Magnus’ stories, characters have unexplained encounters that are so lively and absurd that it takes a moment to realize they are in pain.…There’s just no rest for the lazy in these scripts. Here is the work of an artist as courageous as you’ll ever experience. Here is the work of an artist timeless and true. Relish it. - Achy Obejas Oakland, California