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Playwright and screenwriter David Epstein presents a trilogy of three plays-Mahalo, Desperados, and Arky-tracing the story of an American family navigating a years-long crisis driven by mental illness. Harrowing, comic, and revealing, The Arky Trilogy movingly captures the twists and turns of life as experienced by one family among millions.
CRITICAL PRAISE FOR THE ARKY TRILOGY
"Moving, high-energy dramas of mental health, families, and urgent absurdity."-Publishers Weekly BookLife
"The reader will be anxious to one day see one or all of these plays staged in a theater. Until then, these pages provide a suitable window into Arky's Crazyland. A suite of innovative and emotional dramas depicting an embattled family."-Kirkus Reviews
"Mahalo is a masterpiece."-Robert Brustein, drama critic, Founding Director of the Yale Repertory Theatre and the American Repertory Company
PRAISE FOR DAVID EPSTEIN'S PREVIOUS WORKS
Wanted
"A fine, lovely and lyric madness . . . and at last it restores the art of the musical to the Off-Broadway theatre. . . . It's that rare thing, a show that is as funny as it is provocative. I recommend it wholeheartedly."-Clive Barnes, New York Times
"Love at first sight . . . Myth becomes cartoon, cartoon myth . . . Rooty-toot-toot gaiety!"-Walter Kerr, New York Times
"Rousing Theatre!"-Douglas Watt, The Daily News
Exact Change
"I haven't laughed so much in a theater all year. With Epstein's blackish sense of humor and wry relish of the odd, his play fizzes with talent."-Benedict Nightingale, The Times of London
"Chilling, brilliant . . . dialogue explosions propel the action through the roof."-Irving Wardle, The Independent on Sunday
Palookaville
"A sly, loping comedy . . . sweetly ironic with a skewed charm all its own."-Stephen Holden, The New York Times
"Terrifically enjoyable . . . with a strong sense of style . . . impressive feature film debut of David Epstein."-Joe Morgenstern, The Wall Street Journal
About the author
David Epstein's plays have been produced Off-Broadway, at regional theatres across the country, and abroad. He wrote the screenplay for the film Palookaville, which began life at the Sundance Festival, was honored at the Venice Film Festival, and opened in the United States and worldwide to critical acclaim. Mr. Epstein has written screenplays for the major movie studios, and his films have aired frequently on network TV and on PBS.Mr. Epstein has taught at Colgate University, at NYU, and at Yale. He is a graduate of the Yale School of Drama. He lives with his wife Kate on eastern Long Island and Oahu, Hawaii.
