Bitter Bierce

Bitter Bierce by Mac Wellman

(0)
Productions (12)
Seriocomic Monologue
|
75 - 90 minutes
1 M,  (1 actor possible: 0-1 W, 0-1 M)
Content Notes: Some mild adult language
Set: Minimal.

Journalist. War Veteran. Cynic. Author. Ambrose Bierce invites audiences into the depths of his eventful life, lacing his tale with his sarcastic definitions from "The Devil's Dictionary." Rich with history, humor, and tragedy, Bierce tells us the tumultuous story of his life and times, from his experiences in the Civil War and his newspaper career, to his travels and amusing run-ins with famous public figures.

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Pricing Information

Min. Performance Fee* $85
Standard Edition $13.99
Stage Manager Edition $24.99

*The per performance fee begins at $85. Your per performance fee will be provided during the ordering process.

Play Details

Journalist. War Veteran. Cynic. Author. Ambrose Bierce invites audiences into the depths of his eventful life, lacing his tale with his sarcastic definitions from "The Devil's Dictionary." Rich with history, humor, and tragedy, Bierce tells us the tumultuous story of his life and times, from his experiences in the Civil War and his newspaper career, to his travels and amusing run-ins with famous public figures.

  • Seriocomic Monologue
  • |
  • 75 - 90 minutes
  • 1 M,  (1 actor possible: 0-1 W, 0-1 M)
  • Content Notes: Some mild adult language
  • Set: Minimal.

Published Reviews

"Playwright Mac Wellman, who received an Obie Award for lifetime achievement in 2003, has sampled freely from Bierce's writings in his free-flowing, intellectually dazzling bio-drama."

F. Kathleen Foley, Los Angeles Times

"Bitter Bierce is an auditory feast, a truly unique theatrical event, and another Wellman tour de force."

Jenny Sandman, CurtainUp

"As we watch Wellman's play, it isn't difficult to understand why this brooding loner can still haunt and taunt his readers."

Steven Mikulan, LA Weekly

"Bitter Bierce [is] among the playwright's most direct and affecting works."

Marc Robinson, The Village Voice

"The highly literate script, which Wellman crafted out of his own research and Bierce's writing, crackles with witty and mordant epigrams."

David Cote, Time Out New York

"As the play progresses, it becomes difficult to decipher which words are Wellman's and which belong to Bierce -- and this is good. The fusion of Mac the maker and Ambrose the subject makes Bitter Bierce the object a fascinating thing to behold."

Jeffrey Lewonczyk, nytheatre.com

Production History

APR 27, 2017 - APR 29, 2017
Convergence-Continuum
Cleveland, OH United States
 Convergence-Continuum Cleveland, OH United States
APR 11, 2017 - APR 11, 2017
Playwrights Local
Cleveland, OH United States
 Playwrights Local Cleveland, OH United States
MAR 20, 2017 - MAR 25, 2017
Playwrights Local
Cleveland, OH United States
 Playwrights Local Cleveland, OH United States
NOV 08, 2014 - NOV 09, 2014
Talent To AMuse Theatre Company
San Diego, CA United States
 Talent To AMuse Theatre Company San Diego, CA United States
JUN 13, 2014 - JUN 22, 2014
Talent to aMuse Theatre Company
San Diego, CA United States
 Talent to aMuse Theatre Company San Diego, CA United States
JAN 01, 2006 - DEC 31, 2006
Great Plains Theater Conference
Omaha, NE United States
 Great Plains Theater Conference Omaha, NE United States
JAN 01, 2004 - DEC 31, 2004
Bottoms Dream
Los Angeles, CA United States
 Bottoms Dream Los Angeles, CA United States
JAN 01, 2003 - DEC 31, 2003
Yale Cabaret
New Haven, CT United States
 Yale Cabaret New Haven, CT United States
JAN 01, 2003 - DEC 31, 2003
Bennington College
Bennington, VT United States
 Bennington College Bennington, VT United States
JAN 01, 2003 - DEC 31, 2003
Brooklyn College
Brooklyn, NY United States
 Brooklyn College Brooklyn, NY United States
JAN 01, 2002 - DEC 31, 2002
Location One
New York, NY United States
 Location One New York, NY United States
JAN 01, 2002 - DEC 31, 2002
P.S. 122
New York, NY United States
 P.S. 122 New York, NY United States
No upcoming productions.
No professional productions.

Awards (1)

Cited in 2003 Obie Award for Lifetime Achievement

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