cover photo by Rita Koehler
this collection contains three full-length plays:
SNOW ORCHID
RAFT OF THE MEDUSA
THE DEAD BOY
SNOW ORCHID:
"Pintauro has fully inherited the best tradition of American playwriting; his
post-Ibsen use of symbols and metaphors from the natural world, his lyricism and
his wit make him resemble Tennesee Williams in particular."
Alastair Macaulay, Financial Times (London)
“Reeks of passion and authenticity and is slap bang in the American tradition
of LONG DAY'S JOURNEY.”
Michael Coveny, The Observer (London)
“Pintauro reveals a talent for dramatizing grand passions with almost
operatic vigor. He unleashes a volcanic uproar of affection, obscenities and
physical abuse worthy of Raging Bull.”
Frank Rich, The New York Times
first produced by Circle Repertory Company, New York
RAFT OF THE MEDUSA:
"The question of forgiveness is angled here even more uncomfortably than
in ANGELS IN AMERICA, Donald's unforgiven ghost haunts the group session which
Pintauro presents to us in all its heart-wrenching, recrimination ridden and
blackly comical emotional messiness."
Paul Taylor, The Independent, (London)
“No AIDS play that I can recall examines the subject as thoroughly as RAFT OF
THE MEDUSA, or is as intellectually honest.”
The Wall Street
Journal
“Pintauro's dialogue is propulsive, humorous and blistering...[it] gives only
the appearance of being raw. On the inside, it's tuned like a clock.”
The Los Angeles Times
“RAFT grabs, holds and harrows. Unquestionably hits home and hits hard.
Emphatically worth seeing.”
Clive Barnes, The
New York Post
first produced at the Minetta Lane Theater, New York
THE DEAD BOY:
“Whether you see the play as
a loss of innocence, an abuse of power or an ill fated love story, THE DEAD BOY
is a modern-day gothic drama, every bit as tragic and sensational as the
headlines about the Catholic church.”
Marlene Canty, Asbury
Park Press
“When the boy, only
symbolically dead, stands up, stares at heaven to look god in the eye, and
swears he'll never do what he's about to do, then goes ahead and does it, the
earth stands still. But when the boy cuts his throat, noiselessly, with an
invisible blade, the world stood still again, and even god was appalled. THE
DEAD BOY is one of the best experiences I've ever had in a theater.”
Mark Howell, Solares Hill, Key West
“More than I could have expected from all aspects of this emotionally
startling and passionately performed play.”
Dan Johnson, redbank.com
first produced at the Royal Court Theater
Plays By Joe Pintauro: Full Length Plays
I S B N: 0-88145-270-X
$19.95