> Monologues in PRINT
Sex and Death to the Age 14 (1986)
This is the edited text from six early monologues and represents the bulk of Spalding's work prior to Swimming to Cambodia. Sex & Death to the Age 14; Booze, Cars, and College Girls; 47 Beds; Nobody Wanted to Sit Behind a Desk; Travels throught New England; Terrors of Pleasure: The House. All are pieces of autobiographical storytelling. He would literally work and rework these memories on stage in front of small audiences. Eventually at the encouragement of an editor from Random House, he translated the transcripts to written form.
Prior to diving into this, you should, however, watch at least one performance in order to understand how these would have worked on stage. The humor has a kinship with David Sedaris and I think both artists would have been comfortable with the association.
There was a recording of these monologues published in conjunction with the book but it's no longer in print. (purchase book from Amazon)
Swimming to Cambodia (1985)
This text is the full monologue documented in the Swimming movie and then some. A remarkable piece covering his ongoing quest much happiness, uncertainty, discontent and perhaps a moment or two of bliss. Under the thin pretense of trying to play a role in The Killing Fields, Spalding crafts an racing and wandering path through his own consciousness. The film version helped introduce Spalding (and performance art) to the world beyond experimental theatergoers and is very, very good translation of his stage performance.
An updated edition of the book was released in 2005 with a new introduction and afterward. (purchase from Amazon). The DVD is also available (purchase).
Monster in a Box (1992)
Spalding's struggle to write a novel -- the monster -- finds a lot of it's tension in his trying not to write an autobiographical piece. Despite being the consumate storyteller, he muses that, "I can't make anything up" and is trapped by fiction. The work in question, Impossible Vacation, turns out to be a very funny, melacholic and deeper piece that even he might have expected. (purchase)
Impossible Vacation (1992)
It's a novel but I think it belongs in the same section as his theater pieces. Maybe fiction or maybe not. Forgive a few bumps that are probably the result of trying to hold together a long-form narative and you have an oscillation between poignant comic/tragic episodes. It's additionally interesting for those more acquainted with his monologues as you can watch shadows of his life weave in and out. (purchase)
Gray's Anatomy (1993)
A very strong monologue of Spalding on a worldwind tour of treatments for an emerging ailment in his eye. Through his healing adventure from Native American sweat lodges to psychic surgery in Manila, he illustrates the modern dilema of a skeptic needing to find faith to believe in a cure. The filmed version is excellent. (purchase book) (purchase DVD)
It's a Slippery Slope (1997)
A turning point and a different piece for Spalding. There is real happiness in his discovery of skiing and a childlike elation in discovering this brand new thing. He simlultaneous finds an adult reality in his love life as an affair brings him into fatherhood, divorce and deep responsibility. This forced maturity brings some new emotional angles and more honesty to a man that's seemingly been quite candid with us in the past. (purchase)
Morning, Noon, and Night (2000)
Gray's life post-transition. Full-fledged fatherhood, domestic life viewed though an experimental mind. As with all parents, the daily dramas of small kids bring back your own chlidhood memories in a new light. A very loving reflection of an unexpected, self-observing new Dad and quite different that earlier pieces. (purchase)
Life Interrupted (2005)
After a debilitating car accident, Spalding tries to reconcile new limitations on life. This will be released in late 2005 along with a recorded performance version. (pre-purchase book) (pre-purchase CD)
> Monologues in AUDIO
Sex and Death to the Age 14 (1986)
Published by Random House as an audiobook cassette, this abridged version runs about two hours. Out-of-print and very hard to find.
Terrors of Pleasure (1991)
Published by Gang of Seven and produced by Janet Rienstra and Will Ackerman. Recorded live at the Macky Auditorium Concert Hall, University of Colorado, on April 2, 1991. CD - 71 Minutes. Out of print but available through Amazon re-sellers A version of this performance was televised on HBO and was available on video. (purchase audio) (purchase VHS video)
Monster in a Box (1992)
Published by Gang of Seven. Two CDs and about 2 hours. Out of print but available through Amazon re-sellers (purchase)
It's a Slippery Slope (1998)
Published by Polygram. One CD. (purchase)
Morning, Noon, and Night (2000)
Published by Audio Literature. Cassette Only. (purchase)
Life Interrupted (2005)
To be released October 2005 (
pre-purchase CD)
> Monologues on FILM/VIDEO
Swimming to Cambodia(1986)
Directed by Jonathan Demme. 85 min. DVD (purchase)
Terrors of Pleasure (1991)
Directed by Thomas Schlamme. VHS Only. (purchase)
Monster in a Box (1992)
Directed by Nick Broomfield. 87 min. VHS Only. (purchase)
Gray's Anatomy (1992)
Directed by Steven Soderbergh. 80 min. DVD.
(purchase)
> Other notable FILMs/VIDEOs
Our Town (1989)
Directed by Kirk Browning. 103 min. Produced for Lincoln Center and taped for the PBS series 'Great Performances'. VHS Only.
(purchase)
