August: Osage County Studyguide
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Transcript of August: Osage County Studyguide
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A Supplementary Study GuidePrepared by David Mackay
and Shanna Tedeschi
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Table of Contents
August: Osage County Summary
Theme Spotlight: Mothers and Daughters
Theme Spotlight: Addiction
Production History
Tracy Letts’ Biography
Discussion Questions
Dramatic Essay: Tracy Letts and the American Dysfunctional Family Drama
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August: Osage County Summary
P r o l o g u e
Beverly, the patriarch of the Weston family in Pawhuska, Oklahoma, interviewsJohnna, a young Cheyenne Native American woman for a position to cook andcareforhiswife,VioletWeston.BevwarnsJohnnathatVioletisaddictedtoseveralprescriptiondrugsandsusceptibletoextrememoodshifts.Violet,clearlyundertheinfluenceofherdrugs,descendsthestairsandbrieflyinterruptsbeforeretreatingagain.Beverly,whoasbeendrinkingsteadilyduringJohnna’sinterview,hiresJohnnaandendsthescenebyominouslyquotingT.S.Eliot’spoem,TheHollowMen.
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Elena Araoz as Johnna Monevata and David Howey as Beverly Weston in Arden Theatre Company’s production of August: Osage County.Photo by Mark Garvin.
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August: Osage County - Act II Summary
A c t O n e Fivedayslater,the
extendedWestonfamilygatherstosupportVioletbecauseBeverlyWestonhasgonemissing.Ivy,VioletandBev’smiddledaughter,livesnearbyandisthefirsttoarrive
soonfollowedbyViolet’syoungersister,MattieFae,whohasdriveninfromTulsawithherhusbandCharlie.WhiletheytrytogiveVioletsomecomfort,Sheviciously
dismissesthem,insteadwaitingoneldestdaughterBarbara.Barbara,enterswithhusband,Bill,fromwhomsheisseparated,afactbeingkeptfromtherestofthe
family..Whiletryingtosettledownforthenight,BarbarachastisesBillforhisrecentinfidelitywithoneofhiscollegestudents.BilltriestoplacateBarbara,butsherefusestobeconsoledandbitterlyconfidesthatshebelievesherfatherisdead.Their
fourteen-year-old,pot-smoking,daughter,JeanbefriendsJohnnainthebedroomupstairsintheattic.SleepforallisinterruptedbytheentranceofSheriffGilbeau.
Heconfirmstheworst:Beverly’sbodyhasbeenfoundinthelake.The,drowningispresumedtobesuicide.TheSheriffenlistsBarbaratocomeidentifythebody.Attheact’sclose,Violetemergesfromherbedroominthethroesofadruginducedbinge.
August: Osage County - Act I Summary
Kevin Bergen as Sheriff Deon Gilbeau and Carla Belver as Violet Weston in Arden Theatre Company’s production of August: Osage County.
Photo by Mark Garvin.
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August: Osage County - Act II Summary
A c t T w o
ThefamilyreturnshomefromBev’sfuneral.KarenBarbaraandIvy’syoungersisterpersuadesBarbarathatherlifeisinordernowthatsheisengagedtomarrySteve,afifty-year-oldentrepreneur.Meanwhile,upstairs,VioletandMattieFaegoadIvyaboutherpersonallife,Ivyisonlyabletoextricateherselfbyadmittingthatshehasaboyfriend.Inthelivingroom,Steveflirtatiouslypromisestore-stockJean’spotsupply,whichhasrunlow.CharlesandMattieFae’sne’er-do-wellson,LittleCharlesshowsup,distraughtthatheoversleptandmissedthefuneral.IvysecretlygreetsLittleCharles,herfirstcousinandlover,andtheyaffirmtheirplantoescapethefamilyandmovetoNewYorktogether.AstheWestonentireclanproceedtothedinnertable,argumentsandfamilytensionsescalateinfrustration.,Adrug-emboldenedVioletflexesherviciouspoweroverherfamily,beratingthemcollectivelyandindividually.ButBarbaraviolentlyjumpstodefendherselfandtheothers,andconfronthermother’sdrugaddiction.TheyrestrainViolet,andbeginahunttocollectthedrugsandreclaimthehouse.
photo by PlehalPhotography.com
Some of the cast of the Arden’s August: Osage County
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August: Osage County - Act III Summary
A c t T h r e e
ThefollowingdayandtheWestonsistersmustdeviseahealthplanforVioletwho,accordingtothedoctor,mayhavesufferedbraindamage.Morelucidnowthat she is off her drugs, Violet, remains incorrigible with her daughters, butconcedes thatshewilldealwithher illnesson their terms. While interrogatingBarbaraaboutLittleCharlesand Ivy’s relationship,MattieFae confessesadarksecret.LittleCharlesistheillegitimatesonfromatrystbetweenherandBeverly,herbrother-in-law.LittleCharlesandIvyarehalf-brotherandsister,ThenewsstunsBarbara.Latethatnight,Karen’sfiancé,Steve,andJean,whoisonlyfourteenyearsold,gethighonmarijuana.JustasStevebeginstomakesexualadvances,Johnnacomestotherescue,withafryingpan.Theruckusawakensthefamily.Barbara,lashesoutatJeanandconfrontsKarenoverherfiancé’sdeplorablebehavior.KarenjustifiesSteve’sactionsandblamesJeanforwhathappened.SheandStevedepartinahuff.Billtoo,leavesBarbara,takingJeanwithhim,.Later,Barbarahurtandlost,seekscomfortinthearmsofSheriffGilbeauandindrink.IvycomesforafinalfarewellbeforeleavingforanewlifeinNewYorkwithLittleCharlesViolet,selfishly determined to stop her, tells her the truth – Little Charles is her half-brother. As a distraught Ivy runs from the house, Barbara on her mother. Infurious confrontation, Violet attacks Barbara, accusing her of having abdicatedher familial responsibilities. Violet boasts of her own strength and reveals sheherselfknewofBeverely’sintentions,andmighthavepreventedhisdeath.Barbara,devastated,leavesthehouse;Violet,desperateandalone,crawlsuptotheattictoJohnna,whogentlyrecitesfromT.S.Eliot’spoem“TheHollowMen:”“Thisisthewaytheworldends,thisisthewaytheworldends”.
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ThewomenoftheWestonfamilyhavecomplicatedrelationshipstotheirmotherBeverlyandamongeachother.Readtheirprofilesbelowandexplorethisthemewiththediscussiononthefollowingpage.
Violet Weston (Carla Belver): The devious matriarch. She has lost her husband. She isaddictedtopainkillers(andanyotherpillshecanpop).Shesuffersfromcancerofthemouth.Butthatdoesn’tstopherfromspewinghercynicismorherhilariouslysinisterinsults.
Barbara Fordham (Grace Gonglewski): Theeldestdaughter.Inmanyways,Barbaraisthestrongestandmostsympatheticcharacter.Throughouttheplayshetriestogaincontrolofherchaoticmother,herdilapidatedmarriage,andherpot-smoking14yearolddaughter.
Ivy Weston (Corninna Burns):Themiddledaughter.Aquietlibrarian,stereotypicallymousy.Ivyhasstayedclosetohome,unliketheothererrantWestonsisters.ThismeansIvyhashadtoenduretheacidtongueofhermother.Shehasbeenmaintainingasecretloveaffairwithherfirstcousin.(AndifyouthinkthatsoundslikeaJerrySpringerepisode,justwaittillyoureadActThree!)
Karen Weston (Kathryn Peterson): The youngest daughter. She claims to have beenunhappyherentireadultlife,promptinghertomoveawayfromthefamilyandresideinFlorida.However,shereturnstotheWestonhomebringingalongafiancéintow–asuccessful50yearoldbusinessmanwho,unbeknownsttoKaren,turnsouttobythemostloathsomecharacterwithintheplay.
Jean Fordham (Dylan Gelula):Barbara’sdaugtherandViolet’sgranddaughter.An outspokenfourteenyearold,whoiswiserthanheryears,findssolaceinoldmoviesandmarijuana.A voiceofreasonintheunreasonableWestonhousehold,shebecomesthevictimofherauntKaren’s fiancewhomakessexualadvancestowardsher.
Johnna Monevata (Elena Aranoz): The Native-American live-in housekeeper. She ishiredbyBeverly justdaysbeforehisdisappearance.Shemaynothavemanylines,butshe is themostcompassionateandmorallygroundedofallthecharacters.Sheclaimstostayinthecaustichouseholdsimplybecausesheneeds the job.Yet, thereare timeswhensheswoops in likeawarrior-angel, savingcharactersfromdespairanddestruction.
Source: http://plays.about.com/od/plays/a/augustosage.htm
Theme Spotlight: Mothers and Daughters
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InTracyLetts’play,mothersanddaughtersaremorelikelytoverballyandphysicallyabuseoneanotherratherthanexhibitkindness.
InActOne,Violetcontinuallyasksforhereldestdaughter.ShedependsonBarbara’semotionalstrengthduringthisfamilycrisis.
Yet,atthesametime,VioletcruellypointsoutBarbara’sadvancingage,herevaporatedbeauty,andherfailedmarriage
–allissuesthatBarbarawishestobeleftunspoken.Barbararespondsbyputtingastoptohermother’spilladdiction.
Sheralliestherestofthefamilyintointerventionmode.Butthismightbelessoftough-loveandmoreofapower-play.
DuringActTwo’sclimactic“familydinnerfromhell,”Barbarathrottleshermotherandthendeclares,“Youdon’tgetit,doyou?I’MRUNNINGTHINGSNOW!”
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Theme Spotlight: Mothers and Daughters
Eric Hissom as Bill Fordham and Grace Gonglewski as Barbara Fordham in Arden Theatre Company’s production of August: Osage County.
Photo by Mark Garvin.
Grace Gonglewski as Barbara Fordham and Carla Belver as Violet Weston in Arden Theatre Company’s production of August: Osage County. Photo by Mark Garvin.
Family Dinner
photo by Mark Garvin.
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Thesewomenandtheirrelativemenarepartofasevere family dysfunction.Adultsraisedwithfamilydysfunctionreportavarietyoflong-termeffects.
Thefollowingquestionsmayhelpyouassessyourownfamilysituation.
Answering“Yes”tothesemayindicatesomeeffectsfromfamilydysfunction.Mostpeoplecouldlikelyidentifywithsomeofthem.
Ifyoufindyourselfanswering“Yes”tooverhalfofthem,youlikelyhavesomelong-termeffectsoflivinginadysfunctionalfamily.
Which of these attributes do you see in the play’s characters?
1.Doyoufindyourselfneedingapprovalfromotherstofeelgoodaboutyourself?Yes_____No_____2.Doyouagreetodomoreforothersthanyoucancomfortablyaccomplish?Yes_____No_____3.Areyouperfectionistic? Yes_____No_____4.Ordoyoutendtoavoidorignoreresponsibilities? Yes_____No_____5.Doyoufinditdifficulttoidentifywhatyou’refeeling? Yes_____No_____6.Doyoufinditdifficulttoexpressfeelings? Yes_____No_____7.Doyoutendtothinkinall-or-nothingterms? Yes_____No_____8.Doyouoftenfeellonelyeveninthepresenceofothers? Yes_____No_____9.Isitdifficultforyoutoaskforwhatyouneedfromothers? Yes_____No_____10.Isitdifficultforyoutomaintainintimaterelationships? Yes_____No_____11.Doyoufinditdifficulttotrustothers? Yes_____No_____12.Doyoutendtohangontohurtfulordestructiverelationships? Yes_____No_____13.Areyoumoreawareofothers’needsandfeelingsthanyourown? Yes_____No_____14.Doyoufinditparticularlydifficulttodealwithangerorcriticism? Yes_____No_____15.Isithardforyoutorelaxandenjoyyourself? Yes_____No_____16.Doyoufindyourselffeelinglikea“fake”inyouracademicorprofessionallife? Yes_____No_____17.Doyoufindyourselfwaitingfordisastertostrikeevenwhenthingsaregoingwellinyourlife? Yes_____No_____18.Doyoufindyourselfhavingdifficultywithauthorityfigures? Yes_____No_____
Source:http://www.k-state.edu/counseling/topics/relationships/dysfunc.html
Theme Spotlight: Mothers and Daughters
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Prescriptiondrugsarethesecondmostcommonlyabusedcategoryofdrugs,behindmarijuanaandaheadofcocaine,heroin,methamphetamineandotherdrugs.TheNationalInstitutesofHealthestimatesthatnearly20percentofpeopleintheUnitedStateshaveusedprescriptiondrugsfornon-medicalreasons.
Someprescriptiondrugscanbecomeaddictive,especiallywhentheyareusedinamannerinconsistentwiththeirlabelingorforreasonstheywerenotprescribed.ThoseincludenarcoticpainkillerslikeOxyContinorVicodin,sedativesandtranquilizerslikeXanaxorValium,andstimulantslikeDexedrine,AdderallorRitalin.
In2000,about43percentofhospitalemergencyadmissionsfordrugoverdoses(nearly500,000people)happenedbecauseofmisusedprescriptiondrugs.Thistypeofdrugabuseisincreasingpartiallybecauseoftheavailabilityofdrugs,includingonlinepharmaciesthatmakeiteasiertogetthedrugswithoutaprescription,evenforminors.
Theremayalsobeaperception,especiallyamongyoungerpeople,thatprescriptiondrugsaresaferthanillegalstreetdrugs.Mostpeopledon’tlockuptheirprescriptionmedications,nordotheydiscardthemwhentheyarenolongerneededfortheirintendeduse,makingthemvulnerabletotheftormisuse.
Prescriptiondrugabuseisgenerallythesamebetweenmenandwomen,exceptamong12to17yearolds.Inthisagegroup,researchconductedbytheNationalInstituteonDrugAbusefoundthatfemalesaremorelikelytousepsychotherapeuticdrugsfornon-medicalpurposes.Researchhasalsoshownthatwomeningeneralaremorelikelytousenarcoticpainrelieversandtranquilizersfornon-medicalpurposes.
Thenumberofteensandyoungadults(ages12to25)whowerenewabusersofprescriptionpainkillersgrewfrom400,000inthemid-’80sto2millionin2000,accordingtoastudybytheSubstanceAbuseandMentalHealthServicesAdministration.Newmisusersoftranquilizers,whicharenormallyusedtotreatanxietyortension,increasednearly50percentbetween1999and2000alone.
InastudyofstudentsinWisconsinandMinnesota,34percentofkidsdiagnosedwithAttentionDeficitHyperactivityDisorder(ADHD)saidtheyhadbeenapproachedtosellortradetheirRitalinorAdderall,twodrugscommonlyusedtotreatsymptomsofADHD.
ThegrowingpopulationofagingBabyBoomersarealsoprimecandidatesforprescriptiondrugabuse,intentionalornot,asaretheelderly.Oncesomeonebeginstakinganumberofpillsforthingslikemanagingbloodpressureandcholesterol,itbecomeseasiertotakenarcoticpainkillers,prescriptionsleepaidsandother,moreaddictivedrugs.Italsoincreasestheriskofnegativeandpossiblyfatalinteractionsbetweendrugs,especiallywhentheyarenotusedasprescribed.
Drugaddictionisabiological,pathologicalprocessthataltershowthebrainfunctions.Prolongeddrugusechangesthebraininfundamentalandlong-lastingways.Theselong-lastingchangesareamajorcomponentoftheaddictionitself.Itisasthoughthereisafigurative“switch”inthebrainthat“flips”atsomepointduringanindividual’sdruguse.Thepointatwhichthis“flip”occursvariesfromindividualtoindividual,buttheeffectofthischangeisthetransformationofadrugabusertoadrugaddict.
Source:http://www.prescription-drug-abuse.org/
Theme Spotlight: Addiction
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The Cycle of Addiction
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Writing Activity: Acting Addiction
Actorsplayingcharactersstrugglingwithdrugaddictionmustlearnhowitfeelsemotionallyandphysicallytobeaddictedandaccuratelyrepresentthistotheaudience.Ifyouwereplayingacharacterthatwasaddictedtoprescriptiondrugs,thefollowingactivitycouldassistyouinmakingtheaddictionappear“real”onstage.
Thinkofatimewhenyourbodywasunderalargeamountofstress,forexamplebecauseofillness,lackofsleep,overexertionwhileplayingasport,etc.Describethephysicalaspectsofthisstress:
Howdidvariouspartsofyourbodyreact?Didyoushake?Whicheyetwitched?Whatwasthequalityofthetwitch?Howdidyoufeelemotionally?Didyoumoodschangerapidly?Didyoucryorscream?Whatthoughtsdidyouhave?Wasyourthinkingnormaloraltered?Didyousee,hearorsmellanythingthatwasn’tthere?Didyouhaveirrationalthoughts?Howdidpeoplearoundyourespondtoyourbehavior?Didtheirresponsealteryourfeelingorbehavior?
Trytobeasvividaspossibleinordertomakeyourreaderfeelthephysicalpain,exhaustion,exertion,etc.
Theme Spotlight: Addiction
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Production History
TheoriginalproductionwasproducedbySteppenwolfTheatreCompany,inChicago,andwasperformedintheDownstairsTheatreJune28,2007—August26,2007.
ThecastprominentlyfeaturedmembersoftheSteppenwolfEnsemble,manyofwhomhadbeenworkingtogetherfordecades.
TheBroadwayproductionopenedDecember4th2007,attheImperialTheatreandranfor648performances.
InNovember2008,August: Osage CountymadeitsUKdebutatLondon’sNationalTheatre.
AUSNationalTourbeganinJuly2009atDenver’sEllieCalukinsOperaHouse.Thisproductionwentontotourthroughoutthecountry.
InternationallytheplaymadeitsIsraelidebutattheHabimaTheatreinTelAvivinJanuary2009.InMarch2009,theplaymadeitsPuertoRicandebutattheReneMarquez
TheaterHallinSanJuan.TheArtsCentrePlayhouseinMelbourne,AustraliapresentedtheplayinMay2009.Otherinternationalproductionsinclude,Mannheim,Germany,asat
theNationaltheaterunderthetitleEine Familie(Germanfor“Afamily”)andinVienna,AustriaattheAkademietheater.
The Steppenwolf Theatre Company, in conjunction with the Sydney Theatre Company,openedaproductioninSydney,AustraliainAugust2010.
EdwardSobel,ArdenTheatre’sownAssociateArtisticDirector,servedasdramaturgforthepremiereSteppenwolfandBroadwayproductions.
TheplayreceivedthePulitzerPrizeforDrama,theTonyAwardforBestPlay,theDramaDesk,OuterCriticsCircle,andNewYorkDramaCriticsCircleawards.Itcontinuestobe
producedthroughouttheUnitedStates,andworldwide.
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Tracy Letts’ Biography
Lettswasbornin1965inTulsa,Oklahoma.HewasraisedinaveryacademichouseholdinDurant,Oklahomawherebothofhisparents taughtatOklahomaSoutheasternStateUniversity. He has two siblings, Dana and Shawn, a jazz musician and composer. LettsgraduatedfromDurantHighSchoolintheearly1980’s.Fromthere,hemovedtoDallas,Texas,waitingtablesandworkingintelemarketingwhilehestartedasanactor.
Attheageof20,LettsmovedtoChicagoandworkedforthenextelevenyearsasastageactor,includingworkwithSteppenwolfTheatreCompany.HewasafoundingmemberofBangBangSpontaneousTheatre.In1991,Lettswrotetheplay Killer Joe.Twoyearslater,theplaypremieredattheNextLabTheaterinChicago,followedbythe29thStreetRepinNYC.Sincethen,Killer Joehasbeenperformedinatleast15countriesin12languages.
Letts’s previous Steppenwolf productions as an actor include American Buffalo, Betrayal, The Pillowman, Last of the Boys, The Pain and the Itch, The Dresser, Homebody/Kabul, The Dazzle, Glengarry Glen Ross(alsoDublinandToronto),Three Days of Rain,manyothers.Otherproductionsinclude:Orson’s Shadow(BarrowSt.,NY);Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? (Alliance, Atlanta);The Caine Mutiny Court-Martial (RedOrchid);Conquest of the South Pole (Famous Door); Bouncers (the Next Lab). - TV and Film:Guinevere, U.S. Marshals, Profiler, Prison Break, Seinfeld, Home Improvement,manyothers.Asaplaywright,heisalsotheauthor,Bug(alsoscreenplay),Man from Nebraska(Pulitzerfinalist),August: Osage County(PulitzerPrize,TonyAwardforBestPlay)andSuperior Donuts,producedattheArdeninMarch2011.
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Tracy Letts’ Biography
HismotherBillieLettsisanovelist,andherparentsservedasthemodelforthecharactersBeverlyandVioletWestoninAugust: Osage County.HisfatherDennisLettswasanEnglishprofessorturnedactorwhooriginatedtheroleofBeverlyWestoninAugust:OsageCountyattheSteppenwolf.DennisLettsdiedofcancerearlyintotheBroadwayruninFebruary2008.
LettscontinuestoworkinChicagoasanEnsembleMemberoftheSteppenwolfTheatre,andmostrecentlyappearedasGeorgeinWho’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf, whichiscurrentlyplayingattheArenaStageandheadedtoBroadway.
http://www.avltheatre.com/forte/2007/04/featured_post_tracy_letts_is_p.html
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Discussion Questions
Whatthesignificanceoftheplay’stitle?Howdoestheplay’slocationimpactthestorytell-ing?Whatroledoesthetimeofyearplay?
Compareandcontrastthedifferentgenerationsintheplay.Howdotheerasinwhichthecharacterswereraisedaffecttheirviewoftheworld?Considerwhatotherinfluencesmightengendertheirperspective.
Violetdeclaresbytheplay’send,“Nothingisstrongerthanme.”Inwhatwaysdoessheex-udeherclaim?Inwhatwaysdoesshecontradictit?WhencedoesVioletderiveherstrength?
Whatuniversaltruthsaboutfamiliesdoestheplayembody?TowhatdegreeistheWestonfamilyrepresentativeofAmericansocietyinthe21stCentury?
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Dramatic Essay
Tracy Letts and the American Dysfunctional Family DramabyDavidMackay
O’Neill.Albee.Miller.Letts?
TracyLetts’sinductionintothepantheonofgreatAmericanplaywrightsmaytakemoretimethanthemercurialpacewithwhichAugust: Osage Countyarrivedontheworldthe-atrescene.BetweenAugust2007andNovember2008,August: Osage CountypremieredinChicago,wenttoBroadway,andthentraveledtoLondon’sWestEndgarneringrichpraisefortheplay,castandproduction.Alongthewayofthisfrantictheatricaljourney,LettsreceivedaTonyAward,aDramaDeskAwardandthePulitzerPrizeforDrama,allinrec-ognitionofhiswriting.Reviewsbegantoincludethebyline‘bestnewAmericanplayofthecentury’.Headystuffforaproductionthatlacked21stCenturyhyper-theatricalgadgetrysuchaslife-sizehorsepuppets,flyingmeninspidercostumesandmoviestars-cum-stageplayers.Instead,Letts,likemanyoftheheavyweightdramatistsofthelastcentury,foundhismuseintheAmericanfamilycloset,stillhauntedbyamultitudeofskeletons.August: Osage Countyisnotthereturnoffamilydramastageplay.DavidLyndsay-Abaire’sThe Rabbit Hole,whichexplorestheharrowingordealofafamilydealingwiththedeathofachild,receivedthePulitzerPrizeforDramaonlytheyearbeforeLettswon.(Ardenpro-ducedThe Rabbit Holeinthe2009/10season).Yet,Lettsdeliversusalargesprawlingepicfamilydrama,whichechoescharacters,plot,anddialogueofEugeneO’Neill,EdwardAlbeeandArthurMiller.
FromO’Neill’sLong Day’s Journey into Night,LettsconjuresavisionofMaryTyrone,themorphineentrancedmother,whoseaddictionwreaksguiltandhumiliationuponherchildren.Butopposedtobeingwaif-likeinherstuporwithoccasionalflaresofmalice,VioletchannelsAlbee’scorrosive-tonguedMarthafromWho’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf.Violet,likeMartha,usesruthlessprecisiontominesweepherfamily’spsycheanddetonatevulnerablesoftspots.AndakintoMiller’sDeath of a Salesman,Lett’srootsthesuffering
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Dramatic Essay (cont.)
tery,losesrespectforhisfather,andbyacquiringthisknowledge;Biffisemptiedofhisam-bitiontosucceedinlife.Similarly,Violet’slifeforceisunderminedbyherhusband’saffairwithhersister,MattieFae.However,August: Osage Countyisnotmerelypayinghomagetothetraditionalthree-actdramaportrayingthedysfunctionalAmericanfamilyderailedbysecrets.Therevealoffamilytaboosinatwentiethcenturydramastillhadthepoten-tialtoreverberatewithshockinthecontextofawell-structureddrama.Butinourageof“Googleit,andapictureappearsofit”thereappearstobelittlelefttoshockourcollectiveimagination.Lettsembracesourexpose-allculture,andratherthanrevealtheWestonfamilytaboosassecrets,heinfuseshisintergenerational-characterswithdifferentsetofskillsindenyingortacklingskeletons.Barbara,alsohurtbyherhusband’sextramaritalaffair,refusestosuccumbtohumiliatingsenseofdefeat,butrather,shechallengeshermother’stotalitarianmatriarchywithakamikazeattack.LettsdivulgestheWestonfamilysecretswithoutdrenchingtheminthecurseofsocialscandaland/orindividualguilt.Butrather,heuseshumorandcharacter’sdecisiveactioninordertorehabilitatedrugad-dicts,reprimandinappropriatesexualbehavior,whilesimultaneouslysanctioningalovethatsocietytraditionallyscorns.Ultimately,Barbarachoosesnottoinformhersister,IvythatherloverLittleCharlesisherbiologicalstepbrother.Shechoosestoleaveherabusivemother.Shemayhavehelpedrehabilitatehermotherfromthecurseofaddiction,butshewillnoteducateherinwaysofhumandecency.Whatdefinesthelawsofhumandecencyisaslipperyandeverchangingdefinition.However,earlyintoanewcentury,August: Osage CountyoffersadelectablevariationontheAmericandysfunctionalfamily.Whether,Letts’swilljointheranksofO’Neill,MilllerandAlbee,istoosoontotell.ButlikemostpotentialHallofFameinductees,timeisthebestjudgeastowhetherAugust: Osage Countywillresonatetofuturegenerations.
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