God is Dead. (again) One Act Plays by Kirby Congdon.

(http://www.presapress.com)  $20.



Roseanne Ritzema, writes of poet, playwright, Kirby

Congdon: "Kirby's talent is evident in his skill as a playwright, as

it has been for the past 40 years as an avant-garde poet. These

plays will visually capture audience attention... they provoke us to

examine our existence and question deeper, perhaps even spiritual

issues."  And this Congdon does. In his work I see Sartre, Beckett

and Pinter. These plays, in a crisp and straightforward fashion

probe the ontological questions and existential meaning of life.

In "Here I Am," five characters in a surreal library in the sky (I

presume), presided over by an annoyingly obsequious Mrs. Muse, are

brought together. The other characters are a rather loathsome lot,

composed of poets and other humans we all have encountered. Here is

a painful argument between Poets No. 1, a posturing "poet of the

people," vs. Poet No. 3 an effete and preening "establishment" poet:

Poet No. 3: I am spending my own good time with my lawyers in

setting up a foundation for improvident people, artist very much

like yourself even, who need financial assistance.

Poet No. 1: I don't want no assistance. Buy my fucking book. Read my

poems. I know your foundations and your institutions. I am not a

poet to them boys. I'm a statistic. Well, I don't want your

conscience money and your doles and handouts. I'm a man, not a tax

deduction.

  Other poets get in the fray, fighting like rats over a small piece

of cheese. Congdon presents a very humorous play that deals with

some dead serious issues.

In "Dialogue With God," Congdon uses the conceit of an argument with

the great white father himself, with a rather cowed supplicant. The

dialogue brings out the hypocrisy  of the man-made notions of "God."

Here is a brutally insistent God badgering his "creation" to declare

his love:

"Who is this person you say you love?!"

You!

"Tell me all about it.?"

I love you.

"Who most. Who Most?"

Only you.

"Only me?"

Only you........



Okay boys,

Kill him..."

This book is testament to the fact that Congdon should be as well-

known as a playwright as he is as a poet.



Doug Holder/Ibbetson Update