A SAMUEL FRENCH, INC. TITLE

The Basic Training of Pavlo Hummel

Full-Length Play, Drama  /  3w, 19m

David Rabe

"It's one of the most moving pieces of theatre I've seen." - WABC TV

The Basic Training of Pavlo Hummel

  • Cast Size
    Cast Size
    3w, 19m
  • Audience
    Target Audience
    Adult
Accolades
Accolades
  • Winner! 1971 Drama Desk Award for Most Promising Playwright

Details

Summary
On Broadway with Al Pacino in the title role, this drama continues the series of "Vietnam Plays" by the author of Sticks and Bones and Streamers. A born loser gets drafted into the Army. Pavlo is not very bright. He gets high, then drag races into a cop car. His fecklessness antagonizes his superiors and gets him beaten by his bunk mates. Pavlo next tries suicide with 100 aspirins, but even at this he is unsuccessful. Oblivious, Pavlo marches to war and meets his ultimate, preordained destiny: death.
History

The Basic Training of Pavlo Hummel premiered at The Public Theatre in May 1971 under the direction of Jeff Bleckner.

PAVLO
YEN
ARDELL
SGT. TOWER
CAPTAIN
KRESS
PARKER
PIERCE
CORPORAL
GRENNEL
HINKLE
BURNS
HENDRIX
RYAN
MICKEY
MRS. SORRENTING
MRS. HUMMEL
JONES
MAMASAN
BRISBEY
SGT. WALL
PARHAM

Additional soldiers and Vietnamese people in ensemble.

  • Time Period 1960s
  • Setting The United States Army, 1965 - 1967
  • Features Period Costumes
  • Cautions
    • Alcohol
    • Drugs
    • Gun Shots
    • Intense Adult Themes
    • Strong Language

Media

REVIEWS

"Pavlo Hummel is an abstracted existentialist scream of pain at the horror of war and the nearness of death...An abrasive, honest play well worth seeing." - The New York TimesĀ 

"It's one of the most moving pieces of theatre I've seen." - WABC TV

Licensing & Materials

  • Minimum Fee: $110 per performance

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Authors

Author

David Rabe

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