Thornton WilderRezensionen

Life isn't fair. It's a lesson our parents start trying to teach us young, usually, but it takes a long time to really stick. Sometimes good things happen to bad people for no reason, and the reverse is even more infuriatingly true. It might sound bleak, but this kind of thinking actually makes me feel better when bad things happen. It's nothing personal, it's just the way things are. But to Brother Juniper in Thornton Wilder's The Bridge of San Luis Rey, that explanation isn't good enough. Brother Juniper is a monk, and in his eyes, people die for a reason. So when five people fall to their deaths when a Peruvian bridge collapses, he gathers their stories to try to puzzle out why.

The five are are an older woman estranged from her beloved daughter, that woman's young helpmeet, a young man mourning the loss of his identical twin brother, a stage manager who made an actress famous, and the actress' son. It's a brief little novella, but it's actually more a series of interconnected short stories than anything else. There are four stories going on: the story of the fall of the bridge and its effect on the local populace, the story of the woman and her companion, the story of the twin, and the story of the manager and the actress' son. The people on the bridge, far from being sinners cast down by a vengeful deity, were for the most part flawed but fundamentally good people who had experienced sorrow but were about to make a turn into happiness. What divine justice is there in that?

Even Brother Juniper can't see any. But while the mysteries of life and death may not be revealed by the story of those who perished with the bridge, what really comes through in these stories is love. The love of a parent for her child, the affection between companions, the love of siblings, romantic love, unrequited love...it actually reminds me of Love, Actually (which I know some people wish would vanish entirely from the earth, and definitely has issues, but I attach a lot of sentimental value to) in the way that it highlights the bonds between people. At the end, it's love that moves us, no matter what form that love takes.

This is a small book with a big reputation, and I...didn't really get the hype? Yes, it was good and surprisingly thought-provoking considering its length, but I wouldn't have identified it as a literary classic if I didn't already know it was exactly that going in, if you know what I mean. It was definitely a quality piece of writing, but it wasn't...special. I would be willing to bet that within a year I will have forgotten that I ever read it. But it is a classic, so it's apparently been very meaningful to some people and it's definitely an enjoyable, quick read, so no reason not to try it out if you're curious!

A play in three acts, this is the story of George Gibbs and Emily Webb in Grover's Corner, New Hampshire early in May 1901. The set is sparse, with two tables on opposite sides of the stage representing the kitchens of the Gibbs and Webb homes. There is also a ladder that represents the upper floor of the houses. There is a Stage Manager who narrates the action and occasionally steps into the play's action himself. The play follows the life cycle of George and Emily and their families from their childhood, marriage, responsibility, birth, and death. The action is normal every day activities such as the milkman delivering milk, women going and coming from choir practice, George and Emily coming home from school and doing homework. There are few props, with most activities being pantomimed by the actors.

The last time I read this was in AP English back in 1983. 😳 After reading TOM LAKE, I had to revisit it, and I'm so glad I did. I remember finding it pointless at the tender and stupid age of 17. What the hell was wrong with me? Such a poignant reminder to carpe diem--especially the most mundane moments of our lives because going about our daily business is the life of living and we must cherish every single second. Thanks, TW, for the reminder.

The Eighth Day is a 1967 novel by Thornton Wilder. Set in a mining town in southern Illinois, the plot revolves around John Barrington Ashley, who is accused of murdering his neighbor Breckenridge Lansing. The novel was written over the course of twenty months while Wilder was living alone in Douglas, Arizona. The Eighth Day was the 1968 winner of the National Book Award.

“Either we live by accident and die by accident, or we live by plan and die by plan.”

The finest footbridge in Peru, the bridge of San Luis Rey, breaks and five people die. Brother Juniper witnessed the tragedy and is resolved to investigate and understand why those five met with that fate.
Doña María and Pepita. Esteban. Uncle Pio and Don Jamie.

Beautifully written, with flowery language and a strong sense of place and people of Lima and the places around it. Definitely glad that I finally read this!

And what an ending!:

"But soon we shall die and all the memory of those five will have left the earth, and we ourselves shall be loved for a while and forgotten. But the love will have been enough; all those impulses of love return to the love that made them. Even memory is not necessary for love. There is a land of the living and a land of the dead and the bridge is love, the only survival, the only meaning."½

Acting: 5.0; Theme: 5.0; Content: 4.5; Language: 5.0; Overall: 5.0

A young teenage girl, Charlie Newton, (Teresa Wright) is ecstatic when she learns her Uncle Charlie (Joseph Cotten) is coming for a visit to their small California town. However, Charlie becomes very suspicious of him as she begins noticing clues that he might be the "Merry Widow" murderer. Very suspenseful and Hitchcockian. Highly recommend.

***December 26, 2023***

In this LOA volume, rather than his earlier work focused on playwriting, his literary work included several novels such as "The Eighth Day", "Theophilus North" & the 3 unpublished manuscripts. Rarely does one see a writer range from playwriting to novels. At least, these are humorous look in some cases, poking fun at himself.

Very few had as much impact on the critique of theater besides Thomson & it is Thornton Wilder who wrote plays himself. In this volume, his early 1 act plays are included here along with his most well known play "Our Town". One screen write included "Shadow of a Doubt" a Hitchcock film though Wilder didn't like the rewriting of it. "The Emporium" remained unpublished & is included here. These inclusions are intended to show Wilder's wide range of realistic life presented on the stage & on film.

This book is so good that even a strong conclusionary atheist and antitheist like myself is not annoyed by the meaningless, and in any case faint, religious framing.

Our Town was a major part of Ann Patchett’s book Tom Lake. That’s what prompted me to read Our Town. It’s very different to read a script than a book. Somewhat stilted but the meaning behind the dialogue is the point. I’d actually like to see the okay performed.

Lovely Teresa Wright shines in Alfred Hitchcock’s tale of darkness and evil coming to stay in Santa Rosa, California. A story by Gordon McDonnell was adapted for the screen by Thorton Wilder, Alma Reville, and Sally Benson, and this slice of Americana is played out perfectly by a wonderful cast.

Teresa Wright is the bored young daughter of Emma (Patricia Collinge) and Joseph (Henry Travers) Newton. Life for her in the small town of Santa Rosa has become boring for the wholesome American girl looking to stretch her wings. Wright’s “Charlie” is the very picture of small town innocence. When her Uncle and namesake (Joseph Cotten) blows into town, it is the catalyst for the change she desires. Hitchcock has already shown the audience by this time that something is not quite right about the charming Uncle Charlie, so the viewer already knows from the get-go what’s going on in this film. The special bond between Charlie and her uncle and their unusual connection is fully explored by the director in the happy and charming early moments that follow Cotten's arrival in Santa Rosa.

Hitchcock quickly begins shading this portrait in grey, however. Charlie’s adoration of her uncle borders on a crush, leaving her open and vulnerable to anything Charlie wants. Here the famous director creates some almost uncomfortable scenes, giving the viewer the impression that at any moment Cotton might just take the smiling and adoring Charlie in his arms and kiss her. And for her part, Charlie might remain passive, so unsure is she of her own feelings. But strange behavior in her uncle and the attention of a government agent after him who falls in love with young Charlie will change everything, as Uncle Charlie’s spell is broken when his warped and twisted view of the world is finally revealed. The tune he whistles might be the key to his long absence.

Hume Cronyn steals every scene he is in as Herbie. Long talks on the porch, attempting to devise the perfect murder plan for amusement is ironic and darkly humorous considering the real evil right under their noses. Charlie can’t risk destroying her weak mother, but luckily she has Agent Jack Graham’s (Macdonald Carey) number. Uncle Charlie, however, has no intention of going to the gallows…

This is both a beautiful portrait of small-town America and a suspenseful thriller. Cotten, always solid yet often underrated, underplays his role to marvelous effect. Teresa Wright is simply wonderful in this Hitchcock masterpiece, the very picture of confused innocence. A film that must be seen by all, especially Hitchcock devotees.

This book is an odd, delightful treat that won’t take up too much of your time. It’s that weird ice cream flavor you try (maybe lobster or sweet potato) that ends up becoming a personal favorite.

In a Peruvian mountain pass, a seemingly sturdy and reliable rope bridge snaps, sending five souls to their deaths. A Franciscan friar sets out to find out why these five should have died and not someone else, looking for a way to justify to man the divine plan he’s so sure of at work in the world.

What follows is a neat little story delving deep into the lives of three individuals in their time leading up to the fatal bridge collapse. There is Dona Maria, an aging great lady who’s desperate for the love of her aloof daughter, the young Esteban dealing with his strained relationship with his twin brother, and old Uncle Pio, an elderly scoundrel who discovered a peasant girl and raised her into a prodigy of the Spanish stage. While all these stories are intriguing and thought provoking on their own, the ending and what it has to say about the meaning of life and death is what truly makes this a classic worth revisiting.

The dialog is sparse but also rich in meaning and texture. I can see why it has staying power.

I absolutely love this play, but seeing it performed again this summer was an emotional experience. It was the 25th anniversary of my Mom's death and she performed as the lead in high school. The play is a celebration of life, both its simple routines and its big moments. Seeing it and rereading it was incredibly moving. I can't imagine experiencing this play and not appreciating the beauty of life a bit more when you are done.

"I can’t.
I can’t go on. It goes so fast.
We don’t have time to look at one another.
I didn’t realize. All that was going on in life,
and we never noticed.
Take me back – up the hill – to my grave.

But first: Wait! One more look.
Good-by, Good-by, world.
Good-by, Grover’s Corners.
Mama and Papa.
Good-bye to clocks ticking.
And Mama’s sunflowers.
And food and coffee.
And new-ironed dresses and hot baths.
And sleeping and waking up.

Oh, earth, you’re too wonderful
for anybody to realize you.

Do any human beings ever realize life
while they live it? – every, every minute?"

Deliziosi i primi due capitoli - il secondo in particolare.

Il resto, pur bello, m'e' parso un po' piu' di maniera.

Ma il pensiero che colpi’ frate Ginepro fu un altro: “Perche’ e’ toccata a quei cinque?”. Se esiste nell’universo qualche piano, se nella vita umana v’e’ un disegno, certo lo si puo’ scoprire, misteriosamente latente, in quelle vite cosi’ improvvisamente trovate. O noi siamo vivi per caso, e per caso moriamo, o viviamo secondo un piano, e secondo un piano moriamo. (13)

La Natura e’ sorda. Dio e’ indifferente. Nulla di quanto l’uomo fa puo’ cambiare il corso delle leggi. Allora, a qualche angolo di strada, Dona Maria si fermava presa da un vortice di disperazione, e, appoggiatasi al muro, spasimava di uscire da un mondo che non ha alcun disegno. Ma tosto la fede nel grande Forse insorgeva dal piu’ profondo del suo essere, e si dirigeva verso casa di corsa, ... (44)

Vi risparmiero’ le deduzioni di frate Ginepro: le incontriamo ad ogni passo. Egli credette di vedere, nella grande catastrofe, i perversi colpiti dalla distruzione e gli innocenti chiamati giovani in Cielo. Gli parve di vedere l’orgoglio e la ricchezza confusi come un esempio al mondo, e gli parve di vedere l’umilta’ incoronata e ricompensata, a edificazione della citta’. Ma frate Ginepro non rimase soddisfatto delle sue ragioni. (132)

This is a novel which is like a Russian doll. There are four sections, each one beging earlier, and ending later than the preceeding section. Into the bargain, several of the characters are dead at the time they are described as carrying out their actions in the novel. it is quite a puzzle, and yet a coherent narrative. Wilder is showing off, but he also brings it off.

The third act reminded me of Lincoln in the Bardo. There is a vein of sentimentality that runs through Our Town that (I think) kind of obscures the larger point about how we are locked into our cultural framework, from which the only liberation is death. The second act makes a sort of radical point about marriage. And the staging was innovative for the time. I'm looking forward to seeing the 2002 adaptation with Paul Newman, waiting in my DVD.com queue.

I expected more from this book given its high ratings by some and the fact that it won the Pulitzer. I did like it and found it entertaining - not earth shattering. I will probably remember this book due to its unusual premise: a monk tries to find out why 5 people fell to their deaths when a bridge collapses in Peru. There are basically 3 stories about 3 of the people who died. There are a few others that bring the 3 stories together in a nice, loose way. I don't really have anything negative to say about the book - it just didn't have all that I hoped it would have.

La caída en julio de 1714 del "puente más bonito de todo el Perú" y la consecuente muerte de 5 viajeros, indice a un fraile franciscano a iniciar una investigación acerca de las causas del accidente que, por caminos inesperados, le pondrá a las puertas de la muerte en la hoguera. La emocionante peripecia y la colorista reporducción del Perú de los vireyes, bajo el Imperio español, no ocultan sin embargo una aguda exposición de lo que es, esencialmente, una cuestión metafísica: la naturaleza de la voluntad divina.

As I said above, we saw the Lincoln Center production of this a couple of weeks ago, and were surprised by the darkness of the last act. But it's right there in the script, allowing the director to emphasize or not emphasize it. The edition I read has a Forward by Paula Vogel, which emphasizes the way Wilder departs from the conventions of theater in his day, and how that freedom of form affected the writers after him. And there's an afterword by Tappan Wilder, nephew of the writer, outlining the process and difficulties encountered in the creation and staging of the play, along with some photographs from the older productions.½

A film starring Teresa Wright and Joseph Cotten (Universal, 1943).

A girl suspects her uncle is a criminal.

B (Good).

I guess it's a good movie? It's interesting, and it's entertaining enough thanks to comedic side characters.

(Feb. 2023)½

paperback

I’m not sure how much I liked The Skin of Our Teeth, Thornton Wilder’s second most well-known play..

I should stipulate, reading a play is a very different thing from seeing a play. I don't have much experience reading plays and mentally transmuting the written words and actions to that ancient medium, so take all I say here with a grain of salt. I'm sure the performances would outweigh my imagination.

The Skin of Our Teeth is metaphor many layers deep. The story, such as it is, has the Antrobus family facing three ideas of "the end of the world". First, the ice age, second, the Flood of Noah, and third, a war, reminiscent of WWII, which the play was written during. The metaphorical part here: the family lives in New Jersey. The family is both ancient man and the 20th-century nuclear family.

The fourth wall is broken time and time again. Wilder doesn’t let you forget you’re in a play. (More than anything, in these moments, I think Wilder is saying more about theater at the time than anything else.)

The outcome, the moral, the defining idea, is that humanity always recovers. But the other side of Thornton Wilder's coin is that humanity continues to make the same mistakes over and over again. A husband cheats, a boy murders, the rabble rouses, yet humanity continues. Men learn of true women (for that is the reason the universe was put in motion), children are born, grow, die, and the philosophers continue their march like hours on a clock.

It’s a fine philosophy of a play. Maybe go see it as one, rather than reading about it in a book.

I said about The Crucible that it communicated, in the book, a frenzied action best of all plays I’ve read. I’d like to add an addendum: Thornton Wilder’s Our Town is the best play I’ve read. Ever.

Own Town is very straightforward in concept: It’s Americana. It’s the Normal Rockwell of plays, a small New Hampshire town around the turn of the 20th century, untroubled by the inconveniences of the modern day like telephones, automobiles, and television. No, there are no people of color in this play, but that’s a historical effect more than a racial one. Birmingham this isn’t.

Our Town is not very straightforward in presentation. It begins with no set and no curtain, a blank stage, the house lights up. The stage manager (a character, not the actual stage manager) brings out the props, signaling the play has begun. Immediately he breaks the fourth wall. Turning to the audience, his first line is “This play is called ‘Our Town’.” It continues like this, with the stage manager describing aspects of the town, Grover’s Corner, and it’s inhabitants, primarily two families but other minor characters appear as well, such as the church choir director and the town policeman.

As is explicitly said in the play, the first act is about daily life, the second act is about love and marriage, and you can guess what the third act is about. The third act is Thornton Wilder’s Tour de Force. He rips your heart out. Characters you like but didn’t know you care about will make you weep. Underneath it all, the dead have a curious, secret knowledge that is inherently unknowable during life. A newly-dead woman, faced with a brief glimpse of her old life is brought to tears and utters “I didn’t realize. So all that was going on and we never noticed.”

Thornton Wilder responds, “The saints and poets, maybe—they do some.”


Lines I loved:

- "People are meant to go through life two by two. 'taint natural to be lonesome."

- …I want you to try and remember what it was like to have been very young. And particularly the days when you were first in love; when you were like a person sleepwalking, and you didn’t quite see the street you were in, and didn’t quite hear everything that was said to you. You’re just a little bit crazy.

- We all know that something is eternal. And it ain't houses and it ain’t names, and it ain’t earth, and it ain’t even the stars… everybody knows in their bones that something is eternal, and that something has to do with human beings. All the greatest people ever lived have been telling us that for five thousand years and yet you’d be surprised how people are always losing hold of it.

- “Oh, earth, you’re too wonderful for anybody to realize you. Do any human beings ever realize life while they live it?—every, every minute?”
“No. (Pause) The saints and poets, maybe—they do some.”

- I never realized before how troubled and how... how in the dark live persons are.... From morning till night, that's all they are — troubled.