Recommendations of Art Duty

  • Nick Malakhow: Art Duty

    This is an inventive, absurd, and darkly funny piece of political theater. The flexible identities of the characters are not gimmicky and, rather, allow for a producing company to put its individual stamp on the piece and make distinct commentaries within an established framework. The dialogue is sharp and the play continues to surprise the reader while furthering the story and amplifying the big, messy, complex thematic elements of government control, totalitarianism, and capitalism.

    This is an inventive, absurd, and darkly funny piece of political theater. The flexible identities of the characters are not gimmicky and, rather, allow for a producing company to put its individual stamp on the piece and make distinct commentaries within an established framework. The dialogue is sharp and the play continues to surprise the reader while furthering the story and amplifying the big, messy, complex thematic elements of government control, totalitarianism, and capitalism.

  • Charles Scott Jones: Art Duty

    Daniel Prillaman’s play gets at something ineffable and central to the human condition. Wildly inventive, Roman-candle-esque - and yet contained, thematically focused - an elusive and mystical running joke, somehow both deep and witty, protean yet fixed, deeply disturbing and reassuring, death and life-affirming, a genius eye-patch routine, astonishing characters like Critic 1, a phone-call monologue I envy, many great absurdist lines, the slyly oxymoronic title. ART DUTY is the thing! [5-25-26]

    Daniel Prillaman’s play gets at something ineffable and central to the human condition. Wildly inventive, Roman-candle-esque - and yet contained, thematically focused - an elusive and mystical running joke, somehow both deep and witty, protean yet fixed, deeply disturbing and reassuring, death and life-affirming, a genius eye-patch routine, astonishing characters like Critic 1, a phone-call monologue I envy, many great absurdist lines, the slyly oxymoronic title. ART DUTY is the thing! [5-25-26]

  • Greg Mandryk: Art Duty

    "I will cherish this memory until I forget it." Ha!

    Even if absurdism isn't your jam, Daniel Prillaman peppers Art Duty with enough witticisms to make it well worth a read.

    "I will cherish this memory until I forget it." Ha!

    Even if absurdism isn't your jam, Daniel Prillaman peppers Art Duty with enough witticisms to make it well worth a read.

  • Georgia Xanthopoulou: Art Duty

    Do yourself a favor and read this play! Daniel Prillaman masterfully poses philosophical questions under the guise of absurdity, and these dialogues that blend humor with desperation. It's funny and, at the same time, it's sharp to its core. I read three times Critic's 1 monologue. Hilarious!

    Do yourself a favor and read this play! Daniel Prillaman masterfully poses philosophical questions under the guise of absurdity, and these dialogues that blend humor with desperation. It's funny and, at the same time, it's sharp to its core. I read three times Critic's 1 monologue. Hilarious!

  • Steffen Huck: Art Duty

    This is a very funny play. Wonderfully deadpan. Beautiful setting. Thought-provoking.

    This is a very funny play. Wonderfully deadpan. Beautiful setting. Thought-provoking.

  • Kim E. Ruyle: Art Duty

    Prillaman has a gift for naturalistic dialogue and spinning an absurd, engaging story from something as mundane as standing guard over a piece of art. There’s so much to love about this play. It’s funny. It’s thought-provoking. It’s brilliant.

    Prillaman has a gift for naturalistic dialogue and spinning an absurd, engaging story from something as mundane as standing guard over a piece of art. There’s so much to love about this play. It’s funny. It’s thought-provoking. It’s brilliant.

  • H. Avery: Art Duty

    Absolutely hilarious- ART DUTY is a masterful take on where society is heading. I could watch these characters interact with each other all day.

    Absolutely hilarious- ART DUTY is a masterful take on where society is heading. I could watch these characters interact with each other all day.

  • Brandon Urrutia: Art Duty

    I am a fan of Art.
    Prillaman has made me a fan of those who guard it.
    Art Duty is a terrific piece that explores every facet of craving nonexistence as well as being comfortable in the not knowing.
    I cannot wait to see it on its feet.

    I am a fan of Art.
    Prillaman has made me a fan of those who guard it.
    Art Duty is a terrific piece that explores every facet of craving nonexistence as well as being comfortable in the not knowing.
    I cannot wait to see it on its feet.

  • Emmy Kuperschmid: Art Duty

    Darkly comic and absurd, Art Duty is a dystopian play that asks big questions while being genuinely funny. This play is full of darkly comic, oh-my-god-should-I-be-laughing moments. I'd love to see this produced!

    Darkly comic and absurd, Art Duty is a dystopian play that asks big questions while being genuinely funny. This play is full of darkly comic, oh-my-god-should-I-be-laughing moments. I'd love to see this produced!

  • Morey Norkin: Art Duty

    Daniel Prillaman provides plenty of laughs in this absurdist, dystopian work. But the comedy belies the deeper questions addressed related to how we value art, human life, and our roles in society. The tension between the two security guards, sometimes comic sometimes menacing, is heightened further with the introduction of each new character. Brilliant writing! This play needs to be put on its feet!

    Daniel Prillaman provides plenty of laughs in this absurdist, dystopian work. But the comedy belies the deeper questions addressed related to how we value art, human life, and our roles in society. The tension between the two security guards, sometimes comic sometimes menacing, is heightened further with the introduction of each new character. Brilliant writing! This play needs to be put on its feet!