- Streamers
Infobox Play
name = Streamers
image_size =
caption = Broadway poster
writer =David Rabe
characters = Roger
Richie
Carlyle
M.P.
Martin
Sgt. Rooney
Clark, M.P.
Hinson, M.P.
Billy
M.P. Officer
Sgt. Cokes
setting = a Virginia army base
premiere = 21 April 1976
place =Mitzi E. Newhouse Theater New York City, New York
orig_lang = English
subject =
genre = Drama
ibdb_id = 11202
iobdb_id = 3063"Streamers" is a play by
David Rabe The production transferred to Broadway, opening onApril 21 1976 atLincoln Center 's Mitzi E. Newhouse Theatre, where it ran for 478 performances. The cast included Terry Alexander as Roger, Paul Rudd as Billy, andDorian Harewood as Carlyle, with Evans, Sweet, and McMillian reprising their Long Wharf roles. Later in the runMark Metcalf replaced Rudd as Billy.Plot synopsis
The last in his
Vietnam War trilogy that began with "The Basic Training of Pavlo Hummel " and "Sticks and Bones ", it focuses on the interactions and personal conflicts of a group of soldiers preparing to ship out to fight in theSoutheast Asia n conflict. Among them aremiddle class African American Roger,upper class Manhattan ite Richie, who is struggling with his sexual orientation, conservativeWisconsin country boy Billy, and fearful loose cannon Carlyle, a streetwise black. In charge of their barracks are abrasive alcoholic Sgt. Cokes, who already has served overseas, and aggressive Sgt. Rooney, who is anxious to get into combat.Its title a reference to
parachute s that fail to open, "Streamers" originally was a one-act play entitled "Knives" Rabe completed in the late-1960s prior to writing the first two-thirds of his trilogy. While working as ajournalist inNew Haven, Connecticut , he expanded it into a full-length play. Under the direction ofMike Nichols , it premiered at theLong Wharf Theatre onJanuary 30 1976 . The cast included Herbert Jefferson, Jr. as Roger, Peter Evans as Richie, John Heard as Billy, Joe Fields as Carlyle,Dolph Sweet as Cokes, and Kenneth McMillan as Rooney.Film adaptation
In 1983, Rabe adapted his play for a feature film directed by
Robert Altman and produced by Robert Michael Geisler andJohn Roberdeau . The cast includedDavid Alan Grier as Roger,Mitchell Lichtenstein as Richie,Matthew Modine as Billy, Michael Wright as Carlyle,George Dzundza as Cokes, andGuy Boyd as Rooney.Awards and nominations
;Awards
* 1976Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Play
* 1976 New York Drama Critics' Circle Award for Best American Play;Nnominations
* 1976Tony Award for Best Play References
External links
*ibdb title|13520
*imdb title|86377
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