i loved this so much, with each scene i fell in love more with the characters and the writing. as the story progressed i got more and more emotionally invested, to the point i broke out in tears at some of the scenes toward the end. so so beautiful and real

Eh. This is one of those plays that has an “everything but the kitchen sink” mindset, and the result is a bloated, shallow insight into gay culture in late 1970s New York City. There are drag queens, closeted gay men, mommy issues, twinks, drama, long speeches on love, random sexual encounters, violence, and the list goes on.

It’s too much. That the AIDs epidemic was only a couple years away casts a shadow over the play’s “live and let live” attitude. Not recommended.

ETA: The film adaptation is better. There’s a more cohesive narrative, and if nothing else, it makes for an interesting watch from a historical standpoint given that it was one of the earlier mainstream films to portray an openly gay man.

I loved experiencing these plays after learning the context of their creation through Fierstein’s memoir- I hope someday I can see them performed, especially “Fugue in a Nursery” because the attention given to the staging was so fascinating.

Ed, Alan, David, and Ma are all as dear to me as if I’d loved them myself. Arnold is more, like a part of myself come alive, only grander, with historical importance. This play is part of our queer heritage. It was put into my hands by an older gay man who told me, “You MUST read this.” So if you’re queer and young, this is me, an older (though not yet derelict) queen, taking your hand in mine and saying, you MUST read this.

Sure, a little dated, but mostly a really validating look at the messiness and possibility of queer family. Also wicked funny!

Essential reading for every gay man. This is a master at his best. Ready the play then see the movie it will become one of your favorites.

I saw this long ago and enjoyed reading it now -- it's witty and (in the end) moving. It's a candidate for our tenth grade American lit course, but I don't think so -- it's not as thematically rich as Angels in America.

Took me a while to read. I enjoyed the last of the three stories best. I love the playwright (Harvey Fierstein) so I think I would enjoy this better live as a production rather than reading it.

Definitely a play everyone must read.

Read this after reading Fierstein’s new memoirs — knowing the story behind how it came to be and played out really enhanced my reading of the plays.

Finally read the play as I’d already seen the movie several times. The play is sharper and deeper than the movie but that’s to be expected. Well worth a read and the scenes with his Ma still give me the shivers.

wow. i can't even imagine being a gay person in the 70's/80's and getting to see these three plays live. i would've probably laughed out loud, despaired, jubilated and sobbed my heart out all in the span of those few hours.

(this has marked me and will probably stay with me all my life, but i won't be giving it 5 stars because there are some race-ish wordings that i didn't like, even though i understand it might be reflective of its time)