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Acting Out: Six One-Act Plays, Six Newbery Stars

Book Summary

Reviewed by Terreece Clarke

In these one-act plays written by six Newbery Award winners, each writer had to use the same six words -- "dollop," "hoodwink," "Justin," "knuckleball," "panhandle," and "raven" -- in a different way. The result is a collection of plays that include a view into the publishing world, a look at the environment fighting back against developers, a spooky ghost story, and a twisted look at a fairy tale.

Is It Any Good?

3

While each play has some really great elements, including a lesson, the majority are uninspiring. "The Bad Room" by Patricia MacLachlan is one of the weaker ones. It follows kids who are routinely sent to detention in the "bad room" and how they learn to ballroom dance when a new teacher comes into the picture. The play lacked real humor or plot and the story is too familiar.

One of the gems, however, is "The Raven" by Sharon Creech. Edgar Allan Poe is a modern teen looking to publish his poems and his agent asks for a number of hilarious changes (Why can't the raven be a happier bird?) that aggravate the poor author. This fast-paced, fun play is definitely worth performing with friends or in class.

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