Reviews for Don't Dig for Water Under an Outhouse: and Other Cowboy Commandments

The average rating for Don't Dig for Water Under an Outhouse: and Other Cowboy Commandments based on 2 reviews is 3 stars.

Review # 1 was written on 2012-05-31 00:00:00 Israel Fox Oh my word, Maria Irene Fornes was a genius. If you don't often read plays or see theatre, I would warn you against this collection. It can be a very daunting read. Her plays come alive in the mouths of actors but can be very dense and deceptively senseless on the page. So much of what makes her writing spectacular is the unwritten subtext found under her rich layers. The titular play is one of my favorites. Helena is at once, Ivanka Trump and Elizabeth Warren. She is every woman who has fought to be heard and ultimately given up and settled for changing themselves to appeal to others. Ray is a tortured soul who inflicts brutality on everyone he crosses paths with because he can never know peace within himself. 'Springtime' is one of the most beautiful love stories between two women and can be a stand alone piece. Maria Irene Fornes inspired so many of the greatest writers that came after her. She is considered a playwright's playwright.

Review # 2 was written on 2015-11-28 00:00:00 Felipe Gonzalez Maybe I'm just an ignorant rube, but these plays are an excellent reminder of why so many people no longer go to the theatre. Post-modern and avant-garde to the point of no longer communicating anything except too-long philosophical monologues, these plays are conversations with themselves. On some level, all of these plays had worthwhile insights and could have been interesting if Ms. Fornes were less concerned with being AN ARTIST WHO IS SO WEIRD AND SO ARTISTIC THE MASSES CANNOT UNDERSTAND HER and more focused on her characters and their stories. Not recommended.