Scan barcode
happylilkt's review against another edition
I read this in my eighth grade English class with a very old-school traditional teacher—we memorized poems, learned Latin roots, and had to perfectly write cursive.
The only reason I remember this play exists is because my teacher told me it was the inspiration for the Broadway musical, "The Fantasticks," in whose music my childhood home was steeped.
I have listened to the modern play's music (featuring a young Jerry Orbach!) and have since seen a movie adaptation as well as a few live performances, and finally I'll be reading it (The Fantasticks) with my book club this month so it was time to revisit its inspiration. I had not remembered that Rostand was its author! I loved Cyrano de Bergerac, and this play is true to his clever and warm style. Satire with a subversive romantic streak. After a little disillusionment, romance is still possible, even without all of its trappings, but you must simply have a little imagination. As Oscar Wilde cleverly quipped, "Marriage is the triumph of imagination over intelligence." And Rostand might add to keep a healthy distance between in-laws ❤️
"There is a curious paradox that no one can explain. Who understands the secret of the reaping of the grain? Who understands why Spring is born out of Winter’s laboring pain, or why we must all die a bit before we grow again? I do not know the answer; I merely know it’s true. I hurt them for that reason, and myself a little bit too." —The Fantasticks
The only reason I remember this play exists is because my teacher told me it was the inspiration for the Broadway musical, "The Fantasticks," in whose music my childhood home was steeped.
I have listened to the modern play's music (featuring a young Jerry Orbach!) and have since seen a movie adaptation as well as a few live performances, and finally I'll be reading it (The Fantasticks) with my book club this month so it was time to revisit its inspiration. I had not remembered that Rostand was its author! I loved Cyrano de Bergerac, and this play is true to his clever and warm style. Satire with a subversive romantic streak. After a little disillusionment, romance is still possible, even without all of its trappings, but you must simply have a little imagination. As Oscar Wilde cleverly quipped, "Marriage is the triumph of imagination over intelligence." And Rostand might add to keep a healthy distance between in-laws ❤️
"There is a curious paradox that no one can explain. Who understands the secret of the reaping of the grain? Who understands why Spring is born out of Winter’s laboring pain, or why we must all die a bit before we grow again? I do not know the answer; I merely know it’s true. I hurt them for that reason, and myself a little bit too." —The Fantasticks
allonsyalexa's review against another edition
4.0
Because apparently The Fantasticks is based on this + it's written by Edmond Rostand, who wrote [b:Cyrano de Bergerac|15638|Cyrano de Bergerac|Edmond Rostand|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1386920459s/15638.jpg|2327623], which is a favorite. It's so hard to find a hard copy of this though D:
--
Edit: I found a soft copy at Project Gutenberg and I couldn't resist.
--
Edit: I found a soft copy at Project Gutenberg and I couldn't resist.
More...