Ep 124 - Wit, by Margaret Edson

Overdue

Headgum

Craig Getting, Arts, Books, Podcasts, Literature, Comedy, Andrew Cunningham

4.6 • 2.3K Ratings

🗓️ 20 July 2015

⏱️ 69 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

Margaret Edson's rewarding play Wit (sometimes spelled W;t) is not light, boulevard comedy fare. Inspired by Edson's time in a Washington, D.C. research hospital, the play tackles death from a number of angles including cancer treatments and 17th-century poetry. But what makes it such an enduring entry into the modern canon is how Edson handles these subjects with surprising humor and, well, wit. (Sorry.)

Discussion points include legacy, favorite teachers from our childhood, and what we lose as we fight to stay alive.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Transcript

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0:00.0	While Andrew and Craig believe the joy of discovery is crucial to enjoying any well-told tale,
0:05.2	they will not shy away from spoiling specific story beats when necessary.
0:10.8	Plus, these are books you should have read by now.
0:30.0	Now Andrew, I know what a hobbit is, okay?
0:39.2	Uh-huh. What is a hobbit?
0:42.4	It's a short man with big feet. Not always a man. Short person big feet lives in a shire
0:47.9	in middle place, middle earth.
0:54.8	Middle earth. Yeah, you almost got there.
0:56.9	Middle earth.
0:58.0	Middle earth. Okay, that's, well, I was going to say New Zealand, but I knew that wasn't right.
1:02.3	No.
1:03.1	I know what they are. I don't need to read those books, do I?
1:07.8	Uh, I think you do. I think the listenership has spoken.
1:11.5	The listenership to overdue a podcast about the books that you've been meaning to read.
1:16.5	Yes, that one.
1:18.1	And my name is Craig, and your name is Andrew.
1:24.3	I'm keeping you on your toes, buddy.
1:26.9	Uh, I'm just on my butt now.
1:30.4	I fell, I went boom.
1:32.7	I heard my bottom.
1:35.7	How's your Tush right now?
1:37.5	It's okay.
	...

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