Terminus (NHB Modern Plays) (Abbey Theatre Playscript Series)

A 3 character play set in Dublin. It's almost entirely a series of monologues. Think magical realism meets urban angst.

Gory gratuitous and absolutely exquisite use of language. Mark O' Rowe is a master storyteller. I now teach this as part of my class.

I first encountered this play in the theatre in 2008 at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, in a beautifully-realized production by the Abbey Theatre. Three gradually intertwining stories that slowly tightened their grip on the audience, with a crescendo that left many weeping with the savage beauty of it. Though some critics complained about the static nature of the production (three actors standing on fragmented, glass-shard shaped platforms), those critics were entirely missing the point. This play is a feast of words, a tribute to the unalloyed power of words, and as such it would have been ruined by any emphasis on visual spectacle or even too much physical action. The playwright somehow fuses contemporary Irish slang, free verse and even rhyme and puts it in the mouth of (more or less) realistic modern characters. (I say more or less because there are flights into a kind of "magic realism"--and that's most definitely a good thing.)Do yourself a favor and read this--or better yet, have the incredible fortune to find a stunning production of it someplace. Absolutely, hands-down one of the most glorious experiences I've ever had in the theatre.

This play was phenomenal, really left me wanting to see it performed live. O'Rowe's openended rhythmic writings allow for an easy read, allowing the reader to go through at a solid place, only to be stopped dead in their tracks by surprising acts of violence and encounters with the supernatural that are both original and refreshing. While rhyming does on occasion seem a bit forced, the poetic nature of the play sinks into the back of your head in a way that, like Shakespeare, unless you're actively looking for it will just meld together into a flowing work that will leave you affected on several emotional levels

Fantastic writing, engaging, engrossing, enveloping. Delivered ASAP. Read within the week. Will read over and over and hopefully perform one day soon. Highly recommended.

Great play.

This is written in the style of three intertwining monologues. It's well crafted and a very enjoyable read. Good for workshops/class work.