10-27-06 #8
Paula Vogel’s writing style is very unique and thought provoking. I really enjoy the way she writes because she entices you with her strange and matchless stories about very touchy issues. She discusses things that many people are afraid to talk about at the time; in How I Learned to Drive she discusses incest and child molestation, and in The Baltimore Waltz, she discusses AIDS, which at the time was a very touchy subject. Both stories make the audience reading the story very uncomfortable, and in the case of How I Learned to Drive, even more uncomfortable while watching it. The ability she has to make her work uncomfortable, but still entertaining and humorous and bearable to watch is outstanding. I never imagined being able to laugh at the humor in incest or AIDS before. She has a wonderful way with stories that she can make even the touchiest subjects entertaining to watch.
Both plays have achieved addressing very touchy subjects in a way that no one typically thinks of them. In How I Learned to Drive, many people do not think of a child molester as a kind, loving person who actually cares about the child. In The Baltimore Waltz the subject of AIDS is addressed, in the 80’s it was not a subject someone talks about it, but she addresses in it a way that makes people more comfortable with it by making it humorous. She does a very good job of discussing these topics in a way that people do not usually think of them, but still gets her point across. Vogel really makes you think and look at these prevalent issues from a way you never imagined before. Vogel does a very good job with her writing to address different subjects in a way that makes people understand from a different view, while still making the show entertaining. I really enjoy her writing style and would like to look more into her work.
posted by Ann @ 11:47 PM
2 Comments:
I agree with you that the way Paula Vogel writes is interesting. I really admire the way that, like you said, she can make her audience feel uncomfortable but still make them laugh as well.
I also like the way that she does talk about touchy subjects, but not in a obvious way.
I am in agreement that Paula Vogel is a very talented playwrite.
I agree hat the humor makes it easier to swallow.I also think that as much as touchy subjects can make us not want to see a play they also provoke our intrest and because a.Theatre can seem so real it can come very close to real life with it's emotional impact.But like you said it also add perspectives we wouldn't already get.I think one of the best things about it dealing with touchy subjects is that we can be safe in the audience we can here another view point up close without it being a direct attck at us or without making us feel like we have to defend our view we can just listen for a bit.
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