The distinguished poet and playwright Dan O’Brien discusses his new collection of essays, A Story That Happens: On Playwriting, Childhood, and Other Traumas (CB Editions, 2021), with Joseph Planta.

A Story That Happens: On Playwriting, Childhood, and Other Traumas by Dan O’Brien (CB Editions, 2021). Click to buy this book from CB Editions: A Story That Happens

Text of introduction by Joseph Planta:

I am Planta: On the Line, in Vancouver, British Columbia, at TheCommentary.ca.

Dan O’Brien joins me again. The award-winning poet, playwright and writer has just published a new collection of essays, A Story That Happens: On Playwriting, Childhood, and Other Traumas. The book contains four essays written and presented over the last four years. Four pretty traumatic years if you’re an American, like Dan is. As well, Dan writes about the trauma visited on his family, as he and his wife, the actress and comedian Jessica St. Clair, were diagnosed and treated for cancer each, one right after the other. He writes candidly about how illness affected his ideas on writing, his work and legacy. There are essays on his craft as a playwright which is fascinating and sometimes humorous, as well as helpful. I’ve had Dan on the program many times in the past, and we’ve talked about his plays and his poetry, as well as his longstanding friendship and collaboration with the Pulitzer Prize winning war journalist Paul Watson. I have found a connection to Dan’s work when he writes about family estrangement. Not answers perhaps, though his work, including in this new book, has been edifying in that area too, but in the questions he asks; sometimes wandering, always pointed and poignant. Dan O’Brien received the Edward M. Kennedy Prize for Drama for his play The Body of an American. And the PEN America Award for Drama for his play, The House in Scarsdale: A Memoir for the Stage. He was also awarded a Guggenheim Fellowship. His next collection of poetry, Our Cancers, comes out this fall. Visit www.danobrien.org for more. This new collection is published by CB Editions. Please welcome back to the Planta: On the Line program, Dan O’Brien; Mr. O’Brien, good morning.

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