The Baltimore Waltz and Other Plays Book

Vogel's plays are often taken from the headlines of the day, covering AIDS, sexual assault, discrimination, child abuse, etc. Yet she takes a darkly comical position on them. And though the plays may be direct from the headlines, they are hardly direct.

The plays have a relaxed, farcical feel. The situations (at least in the plays I read) are on their face absurd. The question is how much compassion can or should you feel the characters in these farcical situations.

Baltimore Waltz *** - This is a highly imaginative and fanciful play about the playwright's brother's death by AIDS. Framed around an imaginary trip to Europe (where Anna seeks a cure for Acquired Toilet Disease or ATD) and language lessons, the play careens from one incident to another.

At times the swirling plot doesn't seem to be going anywhere. Many ideas are touched on, but I didn't feel that the play explored any of them in depth.

The Oldest Profession - *** I liked this better than Baltimore Waltz. The rather ridiculous premise of near octogenarian prostitutes commenting on supply side economics is clever. The play, though, seems to lose focus and also tries to be a sentimental tale of friendship and love among seniors. I like both ideas separately, but I'm not sure if they work together.