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Summary: "Arcadia" is a gimmick
Review: "Arcadia" is a play that bounces back and forth between the early 19th century and the late 20th. A great deal of thought and care obviously went into the logistics of repeated time transformations. I fear, however, that the technical aspects of this endeavor get in the way of this play having any particular point. There are a number of ill-developed characters, none of whom elicit much emotional reaction."Arcadia" is sort of a literary parallel to "Twister" or "Jurassic Park": Lots of focus on the special effects, very little on a plot or character development.
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Summary: Playwriting at its best
Review: A widely-acknowledged master of his craft, Tom Stoppard again displays his genius in "Arcadia". Although many tend to concentrate on the brilliant ways in which he includes science, mathematics, literature, history, and philosophy in the text, what most strikes me is the complicated, fascinating way in which he tells a story and creates characters, lest we forget that this is still a play that strives to entertain as well as enlighten. Probably the most interesting aspect of "Arcadia" is the use of a double plot structure, in which two disparate plots unfurl in the same room at the same time, but in completely different eras in history. It would perhaps be more conducive to an understanding of the play to see it, rather than merely read it, yet a thorough read reveals many of the witty remarks, nuances of character, and subtext not entirely apparent in a performance, at least the first time around. What you realize further in a close reading of the play is the ingenious way in which Stoppard structures plot and character. Each character has a complicated, interesting relationship with each of the other characters, and each subplot plays itself out masterfully by the play's conclusion. Stoppard has created complex, inspired, real characters with human wants, needs, desires, and motivations, and they enthrall the reader/audience. Infused with wit, wisdom, and wonder, "Arcadia" is a must-read, must-see work of art.
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Summary: The second law
Review: An excellent mingling of science and literature with the adaptation of the second law of thermodynamics to the lives of the characters.
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Summary: Captivating, Dizzying
Review: An intellectual feast and a deeply moving story all at once. Stoppard explores the natures of heat and passion in Sidley Park, where a pedantic don attempts to prove the unprovable and past and present mirror one another on stage. Excellent character development, usually a weakness in Stoppard's plays. Excellent dialogue as always, strikingly witty.
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Summary: Oscar Wilde with a dash of Thomas Pynchon
Review: An interesting play, with some great one-liners; but as in Oscar Wilde's plays, the one-liners seem to be contrived (expecting a rimshot almost), and sometimes it's embarrassing watching Stoppard trying to be clever. Also, the references to math and physics are a bit forced; one gets the idea that Stoppard is operating out of his range. Perhaps Stoppard is trying to be Pynchon, but Pynchon had a science education and knew his stuff.
No matter what, this is a very entertaining piece of work, and the characters and situations are clever and memorable. I only disagree with the reviewers who say this is amazingly brilliant or profound; I simply don't see it. Perhaps some of the themes elude me -- as I am just an individual reading this for fun, not in a college class -- or perhaps some of the other reviewers are reading things into the play that Stoppard didn't intend (like maybe the other reviewer's whole thing about the 2nd law of thermodynamics). I wouldn't go as far as to say it's the best or even funniest theatre of the 20th century (I still prefer Christopher Durang's humor), but it's notable, as is most anything from Stoppard.
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Summary: Brilliant and heartbreakingly beautiful
Review: Arcadia is a masterpiece! Only Stoppard could weave modern physics, classical literature, piercing wit, sensuous history, astounding absurdities, and sparkling innocence into a web so fresh, so complex, so deeply touching as to open a doorway into the hidden engine-rooms under the world. I say none of this lightly. I have read many plays and none have succeeded in moving me--mind, body, and soul--the way Arcadia has. Let the intellectual acrobatics wash over you if that is not your cup of tea, but read it, nonetheless.
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Summary: Something worth wondering about
Review: Arcadia is one of the most touching and enlightening works of literature I have ever read. The interweaving of ideas from physics, fractals, literature, architecture, history, psychology and many other fields of knowledge hidden in the play is just perfect. Never have I read anything that blends so many unique ideas into itself and does it with such clarity. Layers after layers of ideas are treasured into the hilarious dialogues between the lively characters, and every one of them is worth wondering about. Among these ideas present are some quite obvious and a bit hackneyed ones: sexual attractions are extraordinary forces of nature, history is a cycle of recurring events, and the world is slowly reaching an equalibrium which means the end of all; as contrast to these ancient topics, Arcadia also opens gates to very profound yet reasonable ideas: the present is mathematically interpretable, the future is technically derivable, and the past is always with us. It takes the mind of a genius, like Tom Stoppard, to formulate these ideas and present them to the public in a single neat play that is very limited in setting and amount of characters. In general sense, Arcadia is marked as a comedy because of the peculiarity of some of the characters; however, it is also a tragedy, a romantic story, a comforting book, a philosophical question, and a scientific term paper. That's why this play, in my idea, stands top of various other great contemporary writings. Unfortunately, perfection is impossible in reality; and like everything else in the world, Arcadia has some flaws due to the human factor. Tom Stoppard, after all only a gifted man among men, inevitably gives the readers a sense of vanity through his showing off of his breadth of knowledge. He is a great and sadly underrated writer, I agree, but he is no Gauss, Einstein nor Aristotle. The brief involvements of math, physics, and philosophy do help to develop the ideas, but I believe they are just there to impress the readers. The mathematical, physical, and philosophical theories are not discussed to a depth to show that the characters have true understandings of these theories. Because so, Tom Stoppard's pride becomes a black spot in the fabulous painting of Arcadia; but he is no where to be blamed, for that there is no way to control the human factor in anything humans do; unless we stop doing things using our own knowledge, but let the things take their course and we follow the path of true nature. Ummm... Something worth wondering about...
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Summary: Stoppard is PURE BRILLIANCE
Review: As always, Tom Stoppard has managed to intricately weave a complicated tale that leaves one with not only a score of hilarious one-liners but also some deep questions about the ways of the world. This one is definitely a must read!
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Summary: ARCADIA may be better than ROSENCRANTZ AND GUILDENSTERN.
Review: Containing a deft nod to the British Romantics, a few jabs at modern scholarship, brilliant characters, and some really funny one-liners, ARCADIA is a truly great play. It's not as hyperactive as R+G, but possesses a certain balanced rhythm of its own. Read it.
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Summary: For English Majors only
Review: Don't get me wrong, I'm sure this book has great literary merit, but it reminded me of the types of books I had to read for English class in highschool. You know the type; the kind that are reasonably interesting in class but untouchable on your own. Maybe if I read this slower in a college class I would have liked it, but reading it casually while trying to find a play to produce I found it very weighty with an uninteresting plot. The science is elementary and forced, and although the characters are drawn out pretty well, I had trouble relating to them at all because they were so engrossed in a plot that I didn't give a damn for. I hear it makes more sense on stage so I'll try to find a production to see at some point, but reading it on my own was really a bit of a chore.
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