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American Dream, The
American Dream, The (1961), a one‐act play by Edward Albee. [York Playhouse, 370 perf.] Mommy ( Jane Hoffman) is a domineering middle‐class wife, and Daddy ( John C. Becher) is a henpecked, acquiescent husband, whose only son ( Ben Piazza) fails to live up to the dream they have of his becoming a typical American young man. In despair and fury they emasculate the boy. Although on its surface the play seemed a detached, intellectualized exercise, it proved to be effective theatre. Much of Albee's dialogue seemed surrealistic, as when Mommy asks a newly arrived guest, “Won't you take off your dress?” The potent little play has been produced hundreds of times over the years in college theatres.
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Cite this article
Gerald Bordman and Thomas S. Hischak. "American Dream, The." The Oxford Companion to American Theatre. 2004. Encyclopedia.com. 31 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. Gerald Bordman and Thomas S. Hischak. "American Dream, The." The Oxford Companion to American Theatre. 2004. Encyclopedia.com. (May 31, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O149-AmericanDreamThe.html Gerald Bordman and Thomas S. Hischak. "American Dream, The." The Oxford Companion to American Theatre. 2004. Retrieved May 31, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O149-AmericanDreamThe.html |
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American Dream, The
American Dream, The, one‐act play by Edward Albee, produced in 1961.
In a serio‐comic vein of absurdity, two middleclass Americans, Mommy and Daddy, are presented as ignoring Grandma because she is old, and as having tortured and dismembered their adopted son because he was clearly not going to grow up to be a clean‐cut young man who typified the American Dream. After his death they send for another adopted son. This one satisfies Mommy because he is handsome and athletic, even though it is also obvious that he lacks intelligence and sensitivity. |
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Cite this article
James D. Hart and and Phillip W. Leininger. "American Dream, The." The Oxford Companion to American Literature. 1995. Encyclopedia.com. 31 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. James D. Hart and and Phillip W. Leininger. "American Dream, The." The Oxford Companion to American Literature. 1995. Encyclopedia.com. (May 31, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O123-AmericanDreamThe.html James D. Hart and and Phillip W. Leininger. "American Dream, The." The Oxford Companion to American Literature. 1995. Retrieved May 31, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O123-AmericanDreamThe.html |
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