Contemporary Literary Criticism


Albee, Edward (Vol. 1) | Albee, Edward 1928–

Albee, Edward 1928–

Prize-winning American playwright, Albee is often associated with the Theater of the Absurd, and is best known for The Zoo Story, The American Dream, Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?, and Tiny Alice. (See also Contemporary Authors, Vols. 5-8, rev. ed.)

A Delicate Balance, which is no more than half a play, [is] about a year's work from completion. The author, scurrying to keep up with his white rabbit schedule, did not have time to finish it, but simply stuffed the cracks with cotton and was on his way. Before the situation has even been established, the characters are philosophizing about it over their brandy…. Albee is like a jumpy hostess who can't wait to get her guests' tongues loosened, but brings them their drinks out on the driveway.

This tactic may be taken as a likely sign of creative fatigue. One of the great problems connected with writing too much is that it becomes such a bore...

[The entire page is 1035 words long]

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