The Guys

By: Anne Nelson

Narrated by: Swoosie Kurtz, Bill Irwin

First performed in a hit off-off-Broadway production, and soon to be a film starring Sigourney Weaver and Anthony LaPaglia, The Guys is a timeless drama about the surprising truths people can discover in ordinary lives, and the connections we make with others and ourselves in times of tragedy.

Paralyzed by grief and unable to put his thoughts into words, Nick, a fire captain, seeks out the help of a writer to compose eulogies for the colleagues and friends he lost in the catastrophic events of September 11, 2001. As Joan, an editor by trade, draws Nick out about “the guys,” powerful profiles emerge, revealing vivid personalities and the substance and meaning that lie beneath the surface of seemingly unremarkable people. As the individual talents and enthusiasms of the people within the small firehouse community are realized, we come to understand the uniqueness and value of what each person has to contribute. And Nick and Joan, two people who under normal circumstances never would have met, jump the well-defined tracks of their own lives, and so learn about themselves, about life, and about the healing power of human connection, through talking about the guys.

Critic reviews

“The Guys cannot but hit home.”
—New York magazine

“A stark and simple, potent and poignant play, brimming with edgy humanity.”
—New York Post

“The Guys is not an ordinary night in the theater....What comes through is that humanity can be exalted by expression as well as the other way around.”
—The New York Times

“New York’s most cathartic theater event.”
—Entertainment Weekly

“[The Guys] goes beyond theater. It’s not just entertainment. It [is] a real, moving document.” —Robert Altman

Be prepared to cry…

The play made the events and the victims of the terrorist attacks very real. Be prepared to cry…

Thank you, Anne Nelson

In the wake of 9/11, after attending the memorial service of one of the 343 firefighters who perished, and wanting to do something, my husband chose to spend a year as a civilian firefighter in Saudi Arabia. I heard about Ms. Nelson's play at the Flea Theater in NYC, how it had come to be written, and had an opportunity to see a benefit production of it in Philadelphia in 2002. I sent a copy of the play to my husband whose comment was "She gets it. She has captured the voice of the firefighter." Since then we have given a copy to the parents of that young FDNY probie, and my husband, now doing the same work in Iraq, has a copy of the DVD which has been viewed by the men with whom he serves. I'm delighted to see this made available on Audible. Because the story is told in conversation between just two "characters", the listener gets everything he/she needs, missing nothing of the minimalist action on stage.

I am also grateful to Ms. Nelson for her real life ministry to that FDNY captain and to the countless fire houses she visited, assisting the grieving firefighters of the city of New York in managing the avalanche of media attention they received.

The next time you see an engine or ladder on the road, pull your car over and say "Thank you" for men and women who are dedicated to running into burning buildings. Remember that approximately 90% of the firefighters in the USA are not paid for doing so. They are also every bit as professional as the guys who are paid.

Extraordinary

An extraordinary short play based on the author's 9/11 experiences played by two actors in dialog and monologue. This was a brief and captivating listen, very well suited to the audio book medium. This audio book has rightfully won an Audie award. The play did very well in New York and outside, apparently attracting a stream of heavy actors to do their turn at the roles. This audio book version features Swoosie Kurtz and Bill irwin. Good writing and excellent use of the format. I wish I could share it with friends.

good treatment

I thought this was a good treatment of the topic, that the firemen did not set out to be heroes, but each was unique and memorable to his team. I recommend this audiobook.

There are two characters - the editor and the fire captain. I thought some of the material the editor includes about herself was good and to the point. For example, the anecdote about how she comes to contact her husband who can see the towers out his window. Also her thoughts that other NYers shared that she wanted to do something significant after the tragedy.

But there was a little much about her, I would cut 30% of her parts. And it seemed to end suddenly, like she didn't do enough of the firefighter portraits to satisfy. As I understand, this was written as a play, and written very rapidly. Maybe other later versions will be improved?

Still, very interesting, the dialog was good, worth listening.

touching listening

I am living in Germany and I heard from the collapsing of the twin towers of New York during my ride home from work. At first I thought this was was a really sick joke, the extend of this is simply unbelievable. Than I couldn`t stop watching this over and over at the TV. I spoke with all my friends in the US via the internet and tlephon to hear if they were affected and to comfort them (and me). But now this play: It made me sad, I even wept (I never did that before). It made me feel so sad for the Guys, just normal Guys, no Heroes at all, but they are Heroes for me. This play is so simple and, yes, human, everybody should know it. The narrators both are great, I will listen to it again and again. Thanks !
Karin from Dresden