Reviews for Newton's Darkness: Two Dramatic Views

The average rating for Newton's Darkness: Two Dramatic Views based on 2 reviews is 3.5 stars.

Review # 1 was written on 2013-01-08 00:00:00 Peggy S Farrell I haven't read this since I played Anna in a production of this play in 2007 and I had to reread as I had chosen it as one of the texts for my Stanislavsky/Chekhov class. One of the students hated it as he said it was a bad adaptation, but you can't read this script as a piece of literature. It reads terribly, but I know how well it stands up in production, especially when the actors have gone to the novel itself in order to mine the depth of the characters, something which the writer of this script is trusting that they will do. I always tell my playwrighting students that a script should be an unfinished thing - yes Wilde does stand up as literature - but I also like scripts that leave alot of room for the imagination of the actors, designers and directors. I love the fluidity of this script and the theatrical devices they use to get across key things within the text. I love the trust the writer puts in the artists who will potentially put on the play. The language isn't particularly sparkling, but it has a wonderful THEATRICAL language and this kind of production has had a huge influence on my own writing and directing. However, if I was a reader, or someone who hadn't already worked on the production, I don't think I'd rate it so highly.

Review # 2 was written on 2019-07-12 00:00:00 William Stansberry My first big Russian novel and it was as good experience. The subject matter is a bit depressing, there's a lot of depraved people in this book. But Tolstoy does an excellent job of making it clear how and why they are depraved. His amazing descriptions of characters and events kept me enjoying the book from start to finish. This book follows about five or six main characters and their interwoven lives and stories. Ultimately he contrasts the fallen nature and tragic end of Anna Karenina with the more truth-seeking Levin who ultimately has a happier ending. Death and resurrection pretty clear. Not sure this book is for everyone. I wouldn't recommend it across the board but I am glad I read it and loved the insight into humanity that Tolstoy portrayed.