CMU School of Drama


Monday, November 07, 2011

Reconsidering ‘Lobby Hero’ by Kenneth Lonergan

NYTimes.com: What is the best new American drama of the first decade of this century? It’s the kind of after-two-drinks question that would surely start a fight in theater circles. Tony winners like “August: Osage County,” “Doubt,” “Proof” and “Take Me Out” would most likely dominate most arguments, along with deserving critical favorites like “Topdog/Underdog” and “The Play About the Baby.”

2 comments:

Jennifer said...

I had certainly never heard of "Lobby Hero" let along categorize as one of the best new American dramas. I'm glad the author has brought this play to the surface so that it may receive the attention the article leads me to believe it deserves. I'm drawn in by the fact that there isn't a clear cut line between good and bad. Apparently a cop who assaults a civilian can be likable and and someone who betrays their friend can be a hero. This dichotomy of good people doing bad things is a better representation of people in the real world and always rings more true with an audience than when the line is clearly drawn.

Meg DC said...

I am fascinated by the mix of genres that this play falls into because while most plays fall into one or two genres, this one seems to do what the others strive for. I also appreciate that the play focuses on gender and race in lower classes, instead of just one because I think they are very entwined and plays that try to hit both issues tend to hit was so strongly that the other is lost. Can't wait to see if this play will make it to the next step and become more known (so I have a chance at seeing it perhaps!).