When You Comin' Back, Red Ryder? By Mark Medoff - Goodreads

Home » When You Comin Back Red Ryder » When You Comin' Back, Red Ryder? By Mark Medoff - Goodreads

Maybe your like

Jump to ratings and reviewsWant to ReadBuy on AmazonRate this book

The Hero Trilogy #1

When You Comin' Back, Red Ryder?

Mark Medoff

3.64Want to ReadBuy on AmazonRate this bookWritten for a cast of 5 men and 3 women. The scene is an all-night diner in a sleepy southwestern town, the time early Sunday morning, when the night attendant, young Stephen (Red) Ryder, is about to turn his duties over to his daytime counterpart, Angel. Her friend Lyle, who runs the filling station and motel across the road, stops by for breakfast, followed by an affluent young couple en route to New Orleans. With the arrival of another couple, Teddy and Cheryl, the existing calm quickly vanishes. Their car, in which they are smuggling marijuana into California, has broken down, and while they wait for it to be repaired, Teddy begins to taunt and then bully the others in the diner. With black, sardonic humor he gets at each in turn, stripping away their pretensions and exposing their innermost secrets and fears. They are soon his helpless victims, too terrified to resist as he binds and robs them before heading off down the highway, this time alone. In the end the others, after freeing themselves, realize that they have come through their ordeal without serious harm—at least physically. But for each a searing moment of truth has been faced and, in a deeper sense, they know that they have been changed more than they would have the desire, or perhaps courage, to admit.
    GenresPlaysTheatreDrama

72 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1974

 Book details & editions37 people want to read

About the author

Profile Image for Mark Medoff.

Mark Medoff

39 books6 followersFollowFollowMark Medoff was an American playwright, screenwriter, film and theatre director, actor, and professor. His play Children of a Lesser God received both the Tony Award and the Olivier Award. He was nominated for an Academy Award and a Writers Guild of America Best Adapted Screenplay Award for the film script of Children of a Lesser God.

Ratings & Reviews

What do you think?Rate this bookWrite a Review

Friends & Following

Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!

Community Reviews

3.645 stars17 (21%)4 stars28 (35%)3 stars25 (32%)2 stars4 (5%)1 star4 (5%)Search review textFiltersEnglishDisplaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviewsProfile Image for Carissa.Carissa24 reviews1 followerFollowFollowSeptember 5, 2018This play was disgusting. It’s just a humiliation fantasy written as a play instead of for porn. Sexist, no apparent plot or meaning, poorly constructed characters, and typos galore.Thyri Jaenisch1 reviewFollowFollowMay 31, 2019I saw this play in 1977 at a community college in Washington state. It was fantastic. One of the best plays I've ever seen, and I am an avid theater goer. Frankly, it change my life. It taught me that life is short and it doesn't matter what your dream is. It doesn't matter what other people think of your dream. You have to go for it. "When you comin' back Red Ryder? I'm never comin' back." Profile Image for Michael Anderson.Michael Anderson79 reviewsFollowFollowDecember 12, 2024In a diner in a southern New Mexico town, near the border of Mexico, we are introduced to Stephen (Red) Ryder. A young man of 19 that dreams of getting out of this small town and not working the graveyard shift. He stays to “decompress” from the evenings work, when the day shift worker, Angel, enters. From here we have a slice of life, a romance not discovered by Stephen with Angel, and the arrival of a young doctor and musician. The play then takes a turn in tone when the diner is visited by Teddy and his noticeably nervous companion Cheryl. Teddy makes the diner uneasy until he is put in the position to reveal his true intentions. The play then becomes a parade of cruelty. We see the death of innocence in Stephen, a commentary on masculinity and consumerism. What is truly valuable in life? The owner returns after Teddys departure to find the diner occupants bound with tape but no money taken. Teddy took what was valuable and can never be returned.Profile Image for Wesley Chambers.Wesley Chambers5 reviewsFollowFollowJuly 9, 2022There’s something about this play that gnaws away at one’s sensibilities. It poses many questions of the reader - one being - how would you react in this situation? None of the protagonists are particularly likeable, however after spending time watching the events unfold, you’re left rooting for most of them. Profile Image for Shannon Ellison.Shannon Ellison39 reviewsFollowFollowDecember 7, 2024Didn’t know where this was going but was still having a fairly good time, then the end absolutely nailed it. Somehow very complicated gender politics going on in there, many layers. Profile Image for Shawna.Shawna921 reviews7 followersFollowFollowOctober 20, 2012I picked up a copy of this play years ago when a theater professor I knew was retiring and downsizing his library. It caught my eye because I knew an episode of The A-Team was titled after it. So I thought I'd see if there was a connection. It sat on my shelf for years unread until I discovered Marjoe Gortner. I was researching the former child preacher and discovered that he produced and starred in the movie. He had also been in an episode of the A-Team. So that meandering and obscure couple of interests led me to finally reading this play. I really enjoyed it. Lots of tension...a good build up...and I agree with the playwright, "It's been a long time since I've been afraid of anything but madmen with guns." I would like to see this play redone in this post-Columbine, 9/11 age. As true today as it was then.Abigail1,184 reviewsFollowFollowFebruary 13, 2013Fascinating and terrifying. I often am not one for reading plays, but this one was utterly fantastic. I loved that the beginning did not set me up to expect what happened, but that i was still blown away by it. Beautiful.Profile Image for Russell.Russell70 reviews3 followersFollowFollowAugust 14, 2013A real classic play. As the years go by we are losing our past. This play helps the younger generation see a bit of life 'a long time ago.'It wasn't meant for that but decade later, it does.It frightens the soul a little Profile Image for Michael.Michael231 reviews2 followersFollowFollowMarch 8, 2014Very intense drama involving a diner and a violent protagonist. Ending is a little unfulfilling.Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews

Join the discussion

Adda quoteStarta discussionAska question

Can't find what you're looking for?

Get help and learn more about the design.Help center

Tag » When You Comin Back Red Ryder