So, this might be a four-star play.

I give it three stars mainly because it appears that Shepard is merely following in the footsteps of his predecessors like Eugene O'Neil and Tennessee Williams when it comes to the plot and theme of this play.

In addition, I don't believe he is necessarily adding anything that those previous playwrights haven't already covered.

Sure, it's updated to take place in the 70's (although nothing directly indicates that), and it is a bit darker and arguably more comedic. However, much of this seems rehashed.

Of course, I have been reading many American plays lately, so maybe I'm just a bit tired of the common theme of the American family falling apart due to a tragedy, money, and/or a failure to obtain the American dream.

Nevertheless, this play has its strong moments and would definitely be worth seeing performed.

It might offer some unique perspectives or interpretations that could enhance the overall experience when witnessed on stage.

Despite its similarities to previous works, it still has the potential to engage and move the audience.

Perhaps a live performance could bring out the nuances and subtleties that might not be as evident when reading the text alone.

So, while it may not be a revolutionary piece, it could still provide an enjoyable and thought-provoking theatrical experience.

Shepard's work invariably elicits a feeling of the late-20th century "end of the West" in America. It is dark, lonely, isolated, rural, lower working class, and somewhat off-kilter or even surreal. For me, his work is truly grotesque in that I love the "feel" of it, yet I also find it disturbing to the extent that I have difficulty inhabiting it for long periods. I can never read Shepard's work (or watch his stage adaptations) continuously. I need to experience them one at a time, usually with a significant time gap between readings or viewings. This was my second time reading Buried Child, but my experience in my early 20s was so strange that I forgot much of it.

In this second reading, I was struck by how Shepard back-loads the play. It's almost as if he constructed the ending first and worked his way backward to the beginning, similar to the way Dickens tells Poe that William Godwin wrote Caleb Williams. As a result, there is so much subtext in the first two-thirds of the play that goes unnoticed until the events unfold in the third act, making it necessary to almost go back and re-read some of the earlier pages. However, Buried Child isn't the kind of play I would pick up and re-read for pleasure or watch multiple times (like True West). It is brutal and almost hyper-realistic, real to the point of being almost surreal. It is worth checking out – at least once!

Though I am employed at Steppenwolf, and as a result, I feel a certain obligation to appreciate this play, I actually read it long before I even resided in Chicago, and I liked it.

Let's face it, Shepard's plays are just plain messed up, and that's exactly what I love about them.

As a clandestine writer, I am aware that reading his works has granted me a kind of permission to explore and write about profound, shadowy subjects, and that it's acceptable to do so.

His plays have this raw and unfiltered quality that allows me to break free from the constraints of traditional writing and delve into the deeper recesses of the human psyche.

They inspire me to be bold and fearless in my own writing, to not shy away from the uncomfortable or the taboo.

Shepard's plays are like a wild ride, taking the reader on a journey through the strange and the wonderful, and I can't get enough of it.

I don't come from a huge Sam Shepherd family, but I'm really enjoying reading some of his plays for research purposes.

Sam Shepherd is a renowned playwright, and his works offer a unique perspective on various aspects of life.

Through reading his plays, I'm able to explore different themes, characters, and storylines that are both thought-provoking and engaging.

It's interesting to see how Shepherd uses language and dialogue to bring his characters to life and create a vivid and immersive world on the stage.

Each play seems to have its own distinct style and tone, which makes the reading experience all the more enjoyable.

I'm looking forward to delving deeper into his works and uncovering more of the hidden gems that lie within.

Overall, reading Sam Shepherd's plays has been a great way to expand my knowledge and understanding of the art of playwriting.

A frantically paced story unfolds, centering around three generations of an American mid-west family. They are reunited, yet in the most unconventional manner imaginable. The relationship between the grandparents, sons, and grandson is crafted in an extremely convoluted way. This complexity leads the audience on a journey, building anticipation until an eventual reveal that completely shakes the entire family's foundation. It's a story that keeps you on the edge of your seat, wondering what will happen next.

I don't quite understand the reasoning behind the Pulitzer award for this play. However, despite my confusion, the play is undeniably a short wild ride that is well worth checking out. It offers a unique perspective on family dynamics and relationships, and the twists and turns in the plot make it a truly engaging and captivating experience.

Whether you're a fan of drama, family stories, or just looking for something different to watch, this play has something to offer. So, give it a chance and see for yourself why it has received such acclaim.

I didn't understand this play.

It seemed so complex and full of hidden meanings that I struggled to grasp. The dialogue was fast-paced and at times, rather cryptic. The characters' actions and motives were not always clear to me. I found myself constantly trying to make sense of what was happening on the stage.

Maybe I need to do more research about the play's background and the author's intentions. Or perhaps I should watch it again with a more open mind and try to pick up on the details that I missed the first time.

Despite my initial confusion, I'm still interested in this play. There was something about it that intrigued me, something that made me want to understand it better. I'm determined to keep exploring and learning until I can fully appreciate the beauty and depth of this work of art.

Strange Reading Experience

By the end of Act One, I was truly engrossed in this play and highly impressed with Shepard's writing. I had never read one of his plays or stories before, and this initial encounter had piqued my interest. The plot seemed engaging as a guy shows up at his childhood farm home with his girlfriend only to find that his family doesn't recognize him. I was on board. The grandfather, clearly very old and ill, was sneaking drinks on the couch, adding to the palpable tension.

However, as the play progressed, which, astonishingly, won the Pulitzer, it just became stranger and stranger in my opinion, without any real payoff. One of my pet peeves regarding plays is when all the characters are constantly screaming at each other, drinking, and uttering whacky things. It seemed as if almost every sentence ended with an exclamation point. This style felt dull, predictable, and overly simplistic.

In contrast, in plays like "Streetcar" the characters are distinct and there are emotional ebbs and flows that keep the audience engaged. The same goes for "Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?". But this particular play failed to move me in the slightest. I had absolutely zero connection to any of the characters. It was a rather disappointing reading experience overall.

This play won the Pulitzer Prize in 1979. The story is about a family of seven, and all of its members have a common secret. The secret that is gradually erasing the existence of each of them from within and sometimes even pushing them to the verge of forgetting their own and others' identities.

The narration of the story was interesting but in some places it was tiring. The overall story also had a big ambiguity that didn't become very clear until the end. I think the author's main goal was to depict that inner struggle of people rather than revealing exactly what was happening in the story!

I also had a very hard time establishing a connection with the character of Vince. I didn't know why it was like this and how it had become like this!

Besides these, the image of the pangs of conscience and the breakdown of the family seemed to me to be a very powerful and interesting portrayal.

I think it’s safe to say that dysfunction exists in this household. There are constant arguments and tensions that seem to linger in the air. The communication between family members is often strained and ineffective. Each person seems to be living in their own bubble, not truly understanding or caring about the others.

The lack of harmony is evident in the way they interact on a daily basis. Simple tasks turn into battles, and small differences of opinion escalate into full-blown conflicts. There is no sense of unity or cooperation, and it feels like the family is slowly falling apart.

This dysfunction is not only taking a toll on the individuals within the household but also on the overall atmosphere and well-being of the family as a whole. Something needs to change, but it remains to be seen if anyone is willing to take the first step towards resolving these issues and restoring some semblance of normalcy and peace.

Such a terrible nightmare, but still brilliant.

Sam Shepard's work is characterized by starting from a simple and down-to-earth subject, and telling an amazing story with easy dialogues.

His plays often explore the depths of human nature, the complexity of relationships, and the struggles and dreams of ordinary people. Through his unique writing style, he brings these themes to life in a vivid and engaging way.

Shepard's works have had a profound impact on the world of theater and continue to be studied and performed today. His ability to create powerful and memorable characters, as well as his skill in crafting engaging plots, make him one of the most important playwrights of the 20th century.

Despite the often dark and disturbing nature of his themes, Shepard's plays also offer moments of hope and redemption, showing that even in the face of great adversity, there is always the possibility of finding meaning and purpose in life.

In some ways, it's like watching a train wreck. The events unfold with a certain inevitability, yet there is a strange allure. It's as if you can't look away, despite the chaos and destruction.

The story is well crafted, with characters that are complex and engaging. The plot twists and turns, keeping you on the edge of your seat. You find yourself invested in the outcome, rooting for the characters to overcome their obstacles.

I'd love to see this play on the stage. To watch the actors bring the story to life, to see the sets and costumes, and to experience the emotions in real time. It would be a truly immersive experience, one that I'm sure would leave a lasting impression.

Whether it's the drama, the comedy, or the tragedy, this play has something for everyone. It's a story that will stay with you long after the final curtain call.

Two Guys: Do you think that just because people have children, they should love their births and upbringings?

This play I started in the morning and finished in the evening.

The text is very smooth and touching. I read all the pages with curiosity and eagerness, and I know it will remain in my mind for a long time.

The strange and chaotic space that this play had well settled in my mind, and it was as if I was also there on the upper floor, seeing the events.

The suffocating space where you want to escape, but at the same time you want to know who these people are and what they are doing!

The portrayal of people in a certain place with their own special distressing characteristics that pay more attention to the importance of life.

But why did I give such a low score?

Because I think at the end of the story, like a thirsty person, I didn't get the oasis. Like a lost person in the desert who saw an oasis from a distance and ran after it in the hope of relieving his thirst, but when he arrived, his thirst was not completely relieved.

I think that as I read this play, I fell into the chaos of a family, looked around blankly and numbly, and considered the people in the house, but in the end, I got nothing.

From the very beginning, we become aware of the child's death, and it is said again at the end.

Where did the family members go and come back, and where did Tilton go and never come back?

Why doesn't anyone remember Vincent? Not even his father!

I don't know! There are questions for which there is no answer, and this is distressing.