3.91
"Buried Child," a Pulitzer Prize-winning play by Sam Shepard, is a powerful and haunting exploration of the American dream gone awry. Set in a dilapidated farmhouse in rural Illinois, the play revolves around the fractured and dysfunctional family of Dodge and Halie, whose grown sons, Tilden and Bradley, live with them in a state of virtual isolation. The arrival of Vince, Tilden's son, and his girlfriend, Shelly, sets off a chain of events that exposes the family's dark secrets and buried past. As the play unfolds, it becomes clear that the family's dysfunction is rooted in a terrible event that occurred years ago, the details of which are gradually revealed through a series of tense and surreal scenes. Shepard's writing is characterized by its poetic intensity and its ability to evoke a strong sense of place. The barren and desolate landscape of the farmhouse and its surroundings serve as a powerful metaphor for the spiritual and emotional decay of the family. The characters are complex and deeply flawed, and their struggles with identity, guilt, and redemption are both timeless and deeply resonant. "Buried Child" is a play that challenges the audience to confront the darker aspects of the human experience and to question the myths and illusions that underpin American society. It is a powerful and thought-provoking work that has lost none of its relevance or impact since its debut in 1978. Overall, "Buried Child" is a must-read for anyone interested in contemporary American drama and the works of Sam Shepard. Its exploration of family, identity, and the American dream offers a unique and compelling perspective on the human condition, and its powerful imagery and poetic language will stay with readers long after they have turned the final page...
Sam Shepard
True West
This play, like 'Buried Child,' explores the darker side of the American Dream and family dynamics. It tells the story of two estranged brothers who reunite at their mother's home in California and struggle with their past and identity.
Learn MoreTracy Letts
August: Osage County
A dysfunctional family gathers at their Oklahoma home after the patriarch goes missing, leading to explosive confrontations and revelations. Like 'Buried Child,' this play delves into the complexities of family relationships and secrets.
Learn MoreAugust Wilson
The Piano Lesson
Set in 1930s Pittsburgh, this play follows a brother and sister who argue over the fate of a family heirloom piano, revealing deep-seated family tensions and the legacy of slavery. The themes of family, history, and identity are also present in 'Buried Child'.
Learn MoreEugene O'Neill
Long Day's Journey into Night
This classic play, like 'Buried Child,' delves into the dark secrets and dysfunction of a family. The story takes place over the course of one day and follows the Tyrone family as they confront their past and present struggles.
Learn MoreTennessee Williams
The Glass Menagerie
This play, like 'Buried Child,' explores the theme of family dysfunction and the burden of the past. The story follows the Wingfield family, who are struggling to maintain their fragile relationships while dealing with financial difficulties and unfulfilled dreams.
Learn MoreMartin McDonagh
The Beauty Queen of Leenane
This play, like 'Buried Child,' explores the themes of family dysfunction, isolation, and the burden of the past. The story follows a bitter and manipulative mother and her daughter, who is desperate to escape their suffocating home life.
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