Since it has been a few decades since the majority of the plays have been written, it is truly fascinating to observe what I can identify regarding his perception of America today.

Savage/Love, True West, and Buried Child immediately stood out to me as the most relevant to my own life. Shepard's writing style is extremely profound and unpredictable. In a sense, it is both peculiar and yet somewhat cathartic.

What unfolds on the page appears outwardly odd and remote, but if one allows oneself to be receptive, the words and emotions have the power to reach deep within.

It is as if Shepard is able to tap into the hidden recesses of the human psyche and bring to light the complex and often overlooked aspects of our existence.

His plays force us to confront our own demons and question the world around us.

They make us realize that there is more to life than what meets the eye and that beneath the surface lies a wealth of untold stories and emotions waiting to be discovered.

Shepard's work is a testament to the power of theater to both entertain and enlighten, and it continues to have a profound impact on audiences today.

Even though some of these art forms did not really resonate with me on a personal level, I truly appreciate the remarkable variety that art does bring to our lives.

From the captivating plays that transport us to different worlds and allow us to experience a range of emotions, to the beautiful and often thought-provoking poetry that uses words to paint vivid pictures in our minds, and then to the unique spoken word performances enhanced with sounds that add an extra layer of depth and excitement, it's all so incredibly cool.

While some of these art forms might not be my cup of tea, meaning they might not be the ones that I would choose to engage with on a regular basis, it's undeniable that each and every one of them is definitely worth performing. They all have their own value and significance, and together they contribute to the rich tapestry of human creativity and expression.

For me, this collection is truly more akin to "3 Plays and 4 Bonuses".

That is to say, I truly and deeply relished the first three within it (particularly Buried Child).

However, the latter four... not so much.

I suppose the two experimental pieces that conclude the collection are rather cool.

But those middle two really grated on me in very distinct manners.

All in all, though, it is well worth the metaphorical price of admission for those first three plays alone.

And my rating pretty much exclusively reflects them.

This collection offers a diverse range of works, with the first three plays standing out as real gems.

Their engaging plots, well-developed characters, and thought-provoking themes made them a joy to experience.

On the other hand, the middle two plays had certain aspects that didn't quite sit well with me.

Perhaps it was the writing style or the pacing that didn't click.

Nevertheless, the two experimental pieces at the end added an interesting touch to the collection.

They展示了a different approach to playwriting and provided some fresh perspectives.

Overall, despite the mixed bag of experiences, I would still recommend this collection for those who are interested in exploring different types of plays.

"Buried Child" is, in my opinion, Shepard's chef d'oeuvre. It is a crazy concoction that combines the absolute worst of the worst: incest, crime, grudges, and love/hate familial relationships. It strongly reminds one of Faulkner's "The Sound and the Fury" and Swift's "Waterland". In "Buried Child", Bradley is the same kind of character as Benjamin in "The Sound and the Fury" and Dick in "Waterland". They are all retarded, the reason voice, guilty innocent, and the only reminder and remainder of the sweet world of men. This unique combination of elements makes "Buried Child" a truly remarkable and thought-provoking work. It forces us to confront the darkest aspects of human nature and the complex web of relationships that define our lives. Shepard's masterful storytelling and vivid characterizations bring this world to life, leaving a lasting impression on the reader.

It's a rather ludicrous thing to judge a collection of plays that I haven't actually seen. However, upon finishing the book, the overwhelming feeling is this.

With the exception of the three big plays in this collection - True West, Buried Child, and Curse of The Starving Class - which are excellent examples of neo-macho anti-Americana, I'm truly not certain.

I find it difficult to imagine productions of the remaining pieces that would somehow make them appealing to me.

Perhaps it's because I haven't witnessed them on stage, but there's just something about those other plays that fails to spark my interest based solely on the written word.

It makes me wonder if seeing them performed live might change my perspective, or if they simply don't have the same allure as the more prominent works in the collection.

Buried Child is truly a fabulous play.

However, one might wonder about the significance of the dude with a prosthetic leg.

Curse of the Starving Class is very good, presenting a powerful exploration of certain themes.

Tooth of Crime, on the other hand, is a travesty. It is a horribly juvenile trainwreck of a play that seems as if it could only be staged by a mentally defective boomer.

True West is an absolute masterpiece, captivating audiences with its depth and artistry.

La Turista is just okay, clearly a beginner's work that lacks the polish and sophistication of more developed plays.

The others are just short little filler pieces that seem to be included only to make the book seem more substantial.

Overall, the collection has a mix of quality, with some outstanding plays and others that leave much to be desired.

It would be interesting to see how these works are received and analyzed in the context of modern theater.

Perhaps further exploration and discussion could shed more light on their true value and significance.

**Seven Plays by Sam Shepard**

Sam Shepard, a brilliant and prolific Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright, is a major figure in contemporary American theater. His collection of Seven Plays, published by Dial Press in 1984, contains 368 pages and has an ISBN of 0-553-34611-3. The seven plays include Buried Child, Curse of the Starving Class, The Tooth of Crime, La Turista, Tongues, Savage Love, and True West.

These plays offer a diverse range of themes and styles. For example, "Tongues" is a collaboration between Sam Shepard and Joanne Akalaitis. It is a unique piece where the story of an unnamed person's life is told through multiple voices, all performed by a single actor. Another play, which is not named in the original text but seems to be related to the theme of nostalgia, perhaps titled "Cowboy Number Two", explores the lost golden past of America, especially the old West that was dominated by cowboys. This play presents a contrast between the past and the present, nature and industry, and dreams and reality.
Shepard's works have had a significant impact on the theater world, and his unique vision and writing style continue to inspire audiences and fellow playwrights alike.

Publication Details

The original work was first performed on June 11, 2014. In Persian, there is a translation of "Tongues" by Mohammad Ali Kafashzadeh, published by Afraz in Tehran in 2013. It has 72 pages and an ISBN of 9786003261068. The subject matter is related to 20th-century American playwrights.

Performance History

The play "Tongues" was first performed by Shepard and Akalaitis, with Akalaitis as the narrator of the "voices" and Shepard as the actor for the "sound effects". The dates of 22/10/1399 and 12/09/1400 in the Persian calendar are also mentioned, perhaps indicating other performances or related events.

Overall, Sam Shepard's Seven Plays is a remarkable collection that showcases his talent and creativity as a playwright.

Of the collections of Shepard's work, this particular one stands out for featuring three absolute masterpieces. These masterpieces are "Curse of the Starving Class", "Buried Child", and "True West".

The accompanying works in this collection are about as wildly idiosyncratic a sampling of Shepard's oeuvre as one could possibly expect.

"La Turista" is a work that I read several years ago. It is more freewheeling and wild compared to some of his other works.

"Tongues" and "Savage Love" are both brief and experimental works that were undertaken in collaboration with Richard Chaikin.

"The Tooth of Crime" might be a bit dated, perhaps, but overall it is the strongest of the bunch outside of the main three masterpieces.

Many of these individual works have been reviewed separately on this platform, as they have also been released individually.

This collection truly offers a diverse and captivating look into the world of Shepard's remarkable body of work.

I've read only the Family Trilogy from this book, namely True West, The Buried Child and The Curse of the Starving Class. They all deal somehow with dynasty, and the passage of roles between generations.

True West: The play delves into the conflict between two brothers. One is a successful screenwriter, while the other is a small town thief. It's a nice play, yet at times it can be quite confusing. However, it's certainly innovative. Among the three, it's my least favourite.

The Curse of the Buried Child: This play depicts a family that has lost all the success it once had. With the surprise return of the grandson to the house, a new dynamic emerges. There are also moments when one is unsure of what's going on. Nevertheless, the play is engaging and features beautiful images.

The Curse of the Starving Class: It portrays a family in conflict. The family claims to be starving, but in reality, they are not. It focuses on the failure of the American Dream and the effects that can be seen on the father of the family. This is my favourite play of the three.

Overall, the Family Trilogy offers a diverse range of perspectives on family, dynasty, and the American Dream. Each play has its own unique charm and challenges, making them worthy of exploration and analysis.

I thoroughly enjoyed reading "True West," "Buried Child," and "Curse of the Starving Class." These plays had a certain allure and drawing power that truly captivated me.

However, when it came to the rest of the collection, it seemed to lack the same level of charm and impact as the first three. And then there was the odd play "The Tooth of Crime," which was truly one of the most bizarre things I've ever had the pleasure of reading.

Despite this, this collection manages to prove that Sam Shepard is indeed a chameleon-like writer. He refuses to be confined or pigeonholed into just one style, which I greatly appreciated. It shows his versatility and creativity as a playwright.

The poems at the end of the collection, while perhaps a bit throwaway, were still of good quality. They added an interesting touch to the overall work.

While I'm quite certain that most of this book won't stay in my memory forever, it was still a worthy collection and well worth the time I spent reading it. It offered a diverse range of works that showcased Shepard's unique talent and style.

I read "Buried Child" in college during the mid-90s, and that's how I discovered that Sam Shepard was a playwright. Before that, all I knew about him was his incredible performance as Chuck Yeager in the film "The Right Stuff", which was one of my favorite movies as a kid, along with other movies he appeared in. Later on, I picked up this collection of six additional plays by Shepard and realized that "Buried Child" wasn't just a one-off for him. He was actually a genius playwright who, for some reason, is unknown to most people. I certainly had no idea until then.

My favorites:

"Buried Child" is a story about a highly dysfunctional farm family. There is an abundance of symbolism in this play that you can dissect each scene for days. Yet, despite all the themes and social commentary on the breakdown of "Americana", where the dream was out of reach for most, it remains entertaining. It's one of my all-time favorite plays.

"Curse of the Starving Class" features another dysfunctional farm family. Here, the theme is more centered on how business interests take advantage of people. Once again, it's very entertaining and evokes a wide range of emotions.

"True West" is a story of two brothers, one a screenwriter and the other a thief/con-man who drive each other crazy. There are some hilarious role reversals, and eventually, they both sink to their basest levels.

Worth it for "Buried Child", "Curse of the Starving Class", and "True West".

These works hold a certain significance and value. They may offer unique perspectives and explorations that are worthy of our attention and study.

However, most of the rest of them seem a bit experimental. They are closely attached to their specific times, which may make them more difficult to understand and digest in a conventional reading.

Perhaps this is because they break away from the traditional norms and styles, challenging the readers' preconceived notions and expectations.

Nevertheless, this experimental nature also enriches the literary landscape and provides opportunities for new ideas and forms to emerge.

We should approach these works with an open mind and a willingness to engage with their unique qualities, even if they may initially seem a bit challenging.

By doing so, we can gain a deeper understanding of the diverse range of literary expressions and the evolution of the art form.

Overall, while some works may be more accessible and easier to digest, the experimental ones also have their own charm and importance in the world of literature.