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| Priscilla Pointer (center), and clockwise: Lee Lawson, Robert Symonds; Elizabeth Huddle, Christopher Walken, Herbert Foster, James Broderick, Martha Henry. Photo: Martha Swope. |
A panorama, in over 30 sketches, of four decades of American life, from the Depression to the 1970s, offering an unsettling glimpse into the future as well as a nostalgic look at the past. The cast of eight each played many roles in this satiric, but cynical, examination of the hypocrisy (sexual, religious, and social) of our society as seen through the microcosm of the lives of certain well-established families in Buffalo, New York. A piano medley of pop and classical music accompanied the action.
A considerable number of reviewers thought highly of the play, considering it among the best things ever seen at Lincoln Center's Forum. Harold Clurman called it “well-written,” and Martin Gottfried found it “mostly a lovely entertainment,” although the futurescape scenes were “trite and irrelevant,” not suited to the rest of the work. Douglas Watt termed it “as telling an entertainment as the season has produced,” and he and others touched on the author’s ability to tell his tale with generous quantities of wit. Clive Barnes opined that this “splintered view of a splintered society is effective and chilling,” but thought there was insufficient exploration of the reasons behind the issues and people. “It is never clear what they do or don’t do to deserve the fate Mr. Gurney has in store for them.” Even more on the debit side was Dick Brukenfeld’s comment that Gurney makes the “potentially disturbing . . . toothless and acceptable.”
All agreed that the performances and direction were first-rate, with young Christopher Walken collecting several distinguished accolades. Gottfried, for instance, remarked that he “was getting better every day” and gave a “dazzling” presentation. For others in the cast, check the caption for the accompanying photo.
Gurney proved a worthy recipient of the Drama Desk Award for Most
Promising Playwright.