Winners of Tonys, Pulitzer Prizes: Four Contemporary Plays of Note

People may have some misconceptions about contemporary plays: they're all existential, esoteric, or some other 'e' word that isn't "entertaining." Some people may also feel you can't get access to contemporary plays because they don't live near New York or can't fork over the sixty or seventy-five bucks to pay for the ticket. Others may not even know what plays are out there these days, as contemporary media doesn't publicize them the way they do movies and television. I have recently undertaken the challenge of reading some of today's most lauded plays, thanks to the wonders of public library exchange networking, and I'm happy to say each of them has been in one way or another a good experience. I might even want to see some of them live. If you, too, haven't been up on contemporary theatre but would like to know more, I recommend four plays to get you started.

Suzan-Lori Parks' Topdog/Underdog. This play focuses on two brothers - Lincoln and Booth. Yeah, I know, sound the symbolism alert. One brother is trying to make a life for himself with a legit (if bizarre) job. The other is a wannabe-be ace at "topdog/underdog" (that con-game people run on street corners; you know, with the fast shuffling of three cards and "where's the queen, where's the queen?"). This is a profession where his older brother previously succeeded. The story follows them over a very brief time wherein fights about family secrets, rivalries, women, money, and even race (the two men are African American) collide with heir loyalty and love for one another. As the story progresses and character is increasingly revealed, everything ends with a conclusion that won't disappoint. Parks, currently behind the nationwide "365 plays/365 days" project, writes in a distinct style, giving great attention to character voice, symbolic details, and story. While the vernacular and stylized dialogue may take extra effort to read, I didn't find it off-putting at all and the story and characters were very easy to follow and embrace. The play ran on Broadway with Mos Def and Don Cheadle. It was awarded the Pulitzer Prize for drama in 2002.