Edward Albee's "A Delicate Balance" holds a significant place in American theater, both for its role in Albee's career and its thematic exploration of human relationships. Awarded the Pulitzer Prize, the play marks a shift in Albee's approach to language and storytelling, emphasizing the superficiality of conventional values in domestic settings. This examination of appearance versus reality, accompanied by Albee’s distinctive style, continues to captivate audiences decades after its premiere.

Albee’s Evolving Style

"A Delicate Balance" is pivotal in Albee's body of work, demonstrating a transition in his use of language from direct communication to a more abstract and mannered approach. In contrast to earlier works where dialogue was explicit, this play requires audiences to peel back layers of polite conversation to uncover the underlying emptiness. Although the dramatic structure is straightforward, and the characters might seem superficially simple, this simplicity is deceptive, masking deep-seated emotional voids.

Albee's ability to employ diverse dramatic styles is evident in his experimentation with theatrical boundaries. His works range from brief sketches like "Fam and Yam" to more complex Broadway productions such as "Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?" His preference for engaging the audience as participants rather than passive onlookers is a hallmark of his theatrical experiments, as seen in "The Man Who Had Three Arms," where he breaks the fourth wall to involve the audience directly.

The Absurdist Influence

During the 1960s, Albee's plays emerged as significant contributions to the Theater of the Absurd in America. These works, including "The Zoo Story," "The Sandbox," and "A Delicate Balance," explore the senselessness of human existence, leaving audiences to confront the futility of rationality. The absence of heroes in these narratives underscores the existential themes prevalent throughout his early career.

While Albee's plays from the 1970s and 1980s did not achieve the same critical acclaim as his earlier works, they marked Albee's continued commitment to innovation and originality. His early successes paved the way for a generation of playwrights who would incorporate humor and mythological elements into their works, expanding the boundaries of American drama.

Reception and Legacy

Despite receiving mixed reviews, "A Delicate Balance" has persisted as one of Albee’s most enduring works. Critics have acknowledged its influence, noting Albee's masterful use of language and stagecraft. Harold Clurman, writing for the New York Times, highlighted Albee's "defiant admiration" or "determined denunciation" from critics, while lauding his stage speech as "extremely studied and remarkably euphonious."

Another critic, Walter Kerr, recognized the theme of hollowness in Albee's work, comparing his technique to Harold Pinter's, who evoked fear through subtle suggestion. Kerr argued that Albee's approach was less suggestive, providing an "elegantly lacquered empty platter" that left the audience aware of others' fears rather than experiencing fear themselves.

Revival and Continued Influence

"A Delicate Balance" experienced a revival in the 1990s and 2000s, gaining fresh acclaim and winning a Tony Award for best revival. Vincent Canby noted the "impact of an entirely new work" during its 1996 run at Lincoln Center, capturing the theater's power to astonish and unsettle audiences anew.

The play’s revival extended to global productions, with critics continuing to explore its existential themes. Joe Adcock likened Albee’s exploration of existential hell to Jean-Paul Sartre’s philosophy, expanding the concept to encompass the play’s entire experience, both on stage and within the audience. Misha Berson highlighted Albee's "scalding wit" and "poetic reverie," praising his delicate balance of satire and absurdity.

Core Themes and Characters

At its heart, "A Delicate Balance" scrutinizes the failure of relationships within a family and their closest friends, exposing the superficial values that ensnare them in insincere interactions. Characters maintain a...