Caligula and Three Other Plays (1958)

Interesting slice of early 20th century theatre, most of it concerned with socialist and nihilist themes. The meaninglessness of life is on display as a collection of characters who are hard to like and somewhat hard to sympathize with manage to thoroughly destroy themselves in the name of honor or principle, but for the most part, leaving nothing much changed. The plays are talky and overwrought, rather pedantic, and with far too much exposition and far too little that happens onstage, except perhaps in The State of Siege, where there is actually quite a bit happening. The idea of having the Plague represented on stage as a rather eccentric businessman, with a secretary, no less, is interesting and compelling. I actually think that most of these would stage better than they read, but they would be quite difficult to stage in 21st century theatre, due to large casts and frequent set/costuming changes. Overall, a worthwhile read, but you probably don't want to read it while depressed. It is a bit of a downer, and the depiction of the human condition is more honest that I suspect many would like. ( )