The Balcony

A strange play, but what do you expect from absurdist theatre? Like much absurdism, nothing means what you think it means, nothing happens like you expect it to happen, and the ending just sort of...ends. It is a darkly humorous look at a world where rebels threaten outside, while inside revels occur. The Balcony refers to the grand balcony of a house of ill repute, and most of the play takes place inside the walls of the house. The scene that moves out of the house into the world of the rebels for a brief glimpse is jarring; it doesn't feel like it fits. It isn't part of the world of the play, which is a play of illusions. Though I suppose in this play, the rebellion itself is a form of illusion. Genet appears to be suggesting that we show more all are, in fact, living in illusion. He could be right. show less

Genet, ever the expert observor of social relations as determined by power roles, takes a look at them here in the context of a brothel where people can enact their sexual fantasies by donning the garb of a bishop or a general, etc. Meanwhile, outside the brothel, a rebellion rages. Genet manages to concentrate many levels of reality here & many levels of disatisfaction. Like everything Genet ever wrote, this is great. Maybe I hold back from giving it a 5 star rating just so I can contrast it to other Genet bks that I like even more, maybe b/c I'm not such an enthusiast for plays - preferring more radical forms: such as guerrilla actions.

Would it perturb you to see things as they are? To gaze at the world tranquilly and accept responsibility for your gaze, whatever it might see?

I found this less Brecht and more Passolini. Revolution became chic at some point. This is about assuming roles in tumultuous times. I found the endearing aspect to be the role of the siren or chanteuse.

The pimp has a grin, never a smile

Much as Steven Godin asserted on GR today I think the experience would have been enhanced by viewing this staged. I don't feel that when I read Brecht or Beckett.

Genet manages to play magically with the real/unreal in the context of a brothel in the middle of a revolution. Suddenly the customers of the brothel play the roles of the real life judge, bishop, general and queen (killed in the revolution?), and the revolutionary comes to the brothel to achieve his fantasy of being an hero buried eternally in a mausoleum. The play ends with Irma, the owner of the brothel, addressing the audience and warning them that the live they live outside the theater is even more false than within.
Read and re-read to fully enjoy!
PS: the wikipedia article is comprehensive and helpful for understanding and appreciating the play

nah. too existential for me. and a bit too confusing with the double talk.

The Balcony is probably the most stunning subversive work of literature to be created since the writings of the famous Marquis.... A major dramatic achievement. -- Robert Brustein, The New Republic