You can only get so much from simply reading these plays, you need to bring you visualisation skills because they are all presented with a riot of noises, movement, visual symbols, slapstick comedy and action. The famous 'Rhinoceros' can be seen as a wonderfully comical statement about the frightening rise of fanaticism, but the common thread of all three plays is the maddening lack of communication between people. Berenger cannot communicate with his friend Jean (Rhinoceros), the old couple talk in a kind of stream of consciousness nonsense to each other (the Chairs), and the Professor and his pupil's relationship doesn't go all that well, to say the least, in 'the Lesson'. Ionesco is much more fun than Beckett, but Iike Beckett, these works enquire deeply into what it means to be human. Even if you never get to see a good production, you must at least read these and imagine! ( )

The overrated Rhinoceros gets all the attention, but the other two in this volume are better plays. The Joffrey used to do a ballet of The Lesson that was quite good. ( )