Streamers Paperback – December 11, 2009

There were some interesting moments, drama, and some funny scenes, but overall it didn't feel entirely relevant in today's world. That is not to say LGBTQ rights and acceptance are not still issues, but not in the way it is presented in the play. Sometimes a bit crude for it's own sake as well. I don't regret the read, but the time and money could have probably been spent better elsewhere.

this book performed as it supposed to. it surprised me at accuracy of the type of story being told and did not disappoint in any way.

The play is set in 1965. The single location is the barracks room where a few young Army soldiers live. The play has 2 acts and three scenes total. The characters talk about the possibility of going to Vietnam, which, sometimes sounds like an experience they want, and sometimes sounds like a death sentence (they discuss death by snake and falling into poisoned traps.) And, they bust each others chops, frequently making homosexual innuendos. There are 4 main characters - roomates Billy, Richie and Roger, and friend of the group Carlyle.They get into discussions like this a lot:Billy: Now! (pointing to Roger) Tell that man you mean what you're sayin' Richie.Richie: Mean what?Billie: That you think you're pretty.Richie: Of course I do; I am. Don't you think I am? Don't you think I am Roger?Pros - It's got a good feel for the time and place. There's tension in the characters wondering if they're going to be sent to Vietnam, and if so, what will happen to them there. There are a few great moments, e.g., when Seargents Rooney and Coke come in drunk and talk about their time in the Airborne. They talk about parachutists they've known who's equipment failed them, i.e, *streamers*, and how they might have spent their last minutes. It was a chilling bit.Cons - It's unfocused and slow. It's largely three scenes of enlistees rambling and talking trash. Until the end, which has some action but is still confused. I didn't get the characters motivations. Richie kept teasing his roomates with gay innuendo, given that it's 1965 and they're in the Army, I couldn't see why.Summary - It had a couple of powerful moments but not enough to really draw me into it.

I was looking for a copy of In the Boom Boom Room for one of my students to use for a monologue assignment when I say the 3 stars for Streamers. As I read the reviews I was struck by the adage "on the stage not on the page". I saw this on Broadway and have since seen it done at colleges throughout the country and it is as powerful a piece of theatre as you'll find especially depicting the inanities and the insanity of war. While perhaps not as good as Sticks and Bones and Pavlo Hummel it is still on of the best plays to come out of the Vietnam war and is in many ways this generation's What Price Glory....try to see it...not read it