Getting Out

by Marsha Norman

Released from prison after serving eight years for murder, Arlene Holsclaw finds the outside world filled with people, conflicts, and pressures that threaten to lead her back to a life of crime

Genres: Plays, Theatre, Drama, Fiction, Read For School, Classics, School

Paperback

First published October 28, 1979

About the author

Marsha Norman is an American playwright, screenwriter, and novelist. She received the 1983 Pulitzer Prize for Drama for her play 'night, Mother. She wrote the book and lyrics for such Broadway musicals as The Secret Garden, for which she won a Tony Award and the Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Book of a Musical, and The Red Shoes, as well as the libretto for the musical The Color Purple and the book for the musical The Bridges of Madison County. She was co-chair of the playwriting department at The Juilliard School until stepping down in 2020.

Reviews

[Parisa Hoseini · Rating 4 out of 5]

من این کتاب رو با عنوان ترجمه شده‌ی «خلاصی» از انتشارات دیدآور خوندم.
بعد از خوندن کتاب دوست داشتم که می‌تونستم نمایشش رو هم ببینم. یک خلاقیتی که نویسنده به خرج داده بود وارد کردن کارکتر بچگی آرلن با نام
آرلی بود. این اتفاق باعث شده بود که بتونی ساید دیگر کارکتر اصلی رو هم ببینی و گفتگوهای ناخوداگاهش رو بشنوی که ذهنیت بهتری از کارکتر اصلی بهت میداد.
در کل جالب بود و دوستش داشتم. ترجمه‌ش خوب بود اما می‌تونست بهتر هم باشه. تصویرِ جلد کتاب ترجمه شده رو دوست نداشتم و به نظرم فضاش اصلا با فضای کتاب همخوانی نداشت.
اگر می‌تونید صحنه‌ها رو تو ذهنتون مجسم کنین احتمالا از این کتاب خوشتون میاد. فضاش شبیه فضای دهه نود آمریکاست. البته داستانش تکراریه اما همونطور که گفتم کارکتر کودکی نقش اصلی باعث شده داستان به شکل جالبی روایت بشه.

[Ali]

آن را بسوزانید.

[Alli · Rating 2 out of 5]

It was an okay book. I wouldn't read it again or recommend it to a friend. I think that it might be that it is just not my style. It got confusing to read while there was stuff going on with Arlie and Arline. You just couldn't tell what conversation each line was a part of. I thought that some parts moved very slowly while other parts moved way to fast. It just didn't flow right for me.

[Sarah · Rating 2 out of 5]

Split story where a woman settles into her apartment after being released from jail on the lower half of the stage, while the upper half of the stage contains scenes of her jail life. These scenes are going on at the same time making it an interesting production

[Kara · Rating 4 out of 5]

Moving and real. Brilliant and theatrical nonlinear storytelling.

[Grace Liz]

arlene, Arlie, ruby

[Bob · Rating 5 out of 5]

Everyone needs to be accepted, especially by their mothers. That is a basic need that is characteristic of all humans. Some people are denied this, which was the case for Arlene, the protagonist.

While young, probably still in her teens, Arlene -- then known as Arlie -- landed in prison. She fought authority constantly and suffered through the harsh disciplinary measures of the prison system. By the time she got out, she had changed her outlook considerably, and wanted to be called Arlene.

The play concentrated on Arlene as she moved into her post-prison apartment and took her first uncertain steps as an ex-con. One of her former prison guards took her to her new place, then tried to force himself on her. Her pre-prison boyfriend, a small time hood, showed up and tried to draw her back into his abusive snare. Arlene's earlier self -- Arlie -- was constantly in the background, replaying scenes from the past.

This is a short (64 pages) but tough play. To really absorb it, would have to read more than once. The play spent a long time on Broadway, which I've never been to. If the play was still there, I would go.

[Simon · Rating 4 out of 5]

A required read for my Scene Study Course.

I found this play to be hard to understand at first, but it did click and make sense in the end.

I find the flashbacks intermingled with the present very hard to grasp onto without much stage direction about it. The story itself is a good one, and I like the feel of the characters, a very different way of life compared to the upper classes of society.

[J · Rating 5 out of 5]

She is sooooo F*cked up!

[Letitia · Rating 4 out of 5]

A pretty intense, well-intentioned play. Overall well-written, but difficult to produce.

[Meltha · Rating 3 out of 5]

Rather bleak.

[Rowena · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5. ehh, it was okay. i liked the loudspeaker parts, which were like 1/20th of the play. not very fulfilling or anything. not a huge fan of realism?

[Eva Nieves · Rating 2 out of 5]

Watched the complete play in my college for a review and I have to say it was boring. First part was hard to understand and when we got to the middle it picked it up but at the end it was even worse. The characters were good and sometimes I laughed at loud but overall I felt meh about the story but I only felt compassion for one of the main characters, Arlie. The woman who acted like Arlie did a fantastic job and made me appreciate the story a little bit.