Official Review: Great Americans on Stage

[Renu G]

[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "Great Americans on Stage" by WYN (pen-name for Irwin Shishko.]

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3 out of 4 stars

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Great Americans on Stage by WYN is an illustrated edition of theatrical plays portraying three famous personalities: Henry Lee III (Light Horse Harry), Alexander Hamilton, and Abraham Lincoln. The first two dramas are historical fiction using some facts such as dates, names, places, and events; whereas the third is complete fiction. Dialogues come from the playwright’s imagination. His real name is Irwin Shishko. As the country progresses through a revolutionary phase, the chaos and conflict are transformed into harmony and unity which bring prosperity to its citizens. The three plays are set within this context. Let me provide a brief description of each story intermingled with some comments based on my observations.

In the first drama, the author tries to breathe life into the characters, without wanting to convey a message. He focuses on the “blind patriotism of a mob which destroys an American Patriot.” The description of all the characters is a bit confusing to recount. In the beginning, most of the dialogues are between Harry, Ann (his wife), and Mary (Ann’s cousin) as they discuss courtship and married life. Other people emerge in the latter half with more serious content. It is not very interesting because Light Horse Harry is a relatively unknown historical personality.

The second is a play in three acts. Hamilton is depicted as a founding father who contributes to America’s economic well-being. He has a colorful and romantic personality. The drama is illuminating as well as entertaining. Most of the characters play double roles. The setting is mostly indoors with a more balanced intervention by the cast compared to the first drama. The curtain descends just in time for the audience to take a break and reflect. It is followed by a playful and humorous epilogue.

The third drama on Lincoln is my favorite. It is a morality play on saying “No!” to war. There are three scenes with fewer characters. Lincoln is the newly elected President. There is a devastating Civil War. The central concern of the story is whether it could have been prevented. The language and style are very different to the extent that it seems to have been penned by another writer.

Overall, the author provides enough details to set the stage and prepare the characters for their roles. The scenes are easy to visualize. However, the auditory aspect receives negligible attention. There could be some description of the use of multimedia to create a background and the kind of music or sounds that could be included in each drama. Only the first play provides a bibliography. The formatting is excellent, and the text seems to have been professionally edited. I discovered only one typo. WYN has an amazing vocabulary. His choice of words is fabulous and fitting. I had to often refer to the dictionary but enjoyed it. He also uses a combination of words like “delicious chameleon” and “passionate witch” that make me laugh. Because of all these reasons, I am pleased to rate this book 3 out of 4 stars. If possible, I would rate it 3.5 stars.

I recommend this book for adults who have an interest in such plays and professionals in the field of drama. Social workers and politicians may enjoy reading the text as well as watching the stories enacted on stage. I doubt whether it could make a profitable movie. Couples may find these dramas entertaining.

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Great Americans on Stage
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Like Renu G's review? Post a comment saying so!

[kandscreeley]

I haven't read any plays since college, maybe high school. It's not something I usually gravitate towards and especially not in the historical genre. I'm glad you enjoyed this, but I don't think I would enjoy it. It's not my cup of tea. Thanks for the review, though.

[Brendan Donaghy]

I tend not to read works that are intended to be acted out. If I'm interested in a play, I'd much prefer to go and see it on stage, if that's possible, as I think a lot of stuff gets lost if it's not acted out. Not for me, this one, but I enjoyed reading your review. Many thanks!

[Fazzier]

I like reading plays. The fact that the author has also provided enough details to set stage makes me want to read this book. Thank you for this review!

[Meg98]

Sounds like this book includes well developed characters and a unique storyline. I love historical fiction and reading plays, but sometimes they lack that excitement/drama you need... This seems to be a good balance of facts and intrigue. Thank you for your review, it is very well written!