An assumption about drama that McNally seems to purport in this play is that it needn't be played realistically in time or space. As opposed to the well-made plays of Scribe and Herman, McNally does not even provide the possibility for illusionism of setting since one would be hard pressed to find a theatre space with a lake included. The progression of the play also violates the linear structure of illusionistic theatre, since the plot not only includes simultaneous action, but also jumps backwards and forwards in time in acts one and three.
I believe the capital-T Truth of the play's culture would be viewed as death as the only certainty in life. Throughout the play, there are several motifs that the characters return to, in fact the entire play is almost a repetition of action since each Act is a holiday weekend in the same summer, and each is filled with similar activities (and weather). However, the true constant in the narrative is death.
The timer begins for Buzz in Act One when it is revealed that he has AIDS. James is in the same sinking boat as Buzz, and the sudden death of Bobby's sister seems to firmly deny death as a purposeful tool in the story. Rather, death takes on a life of its own within the play and it must be faced by each of the characters in the end in the final scene. Even Bobby, though he refuses to hear the method of his death, must accept its inevitability. In Act Three, when Arthur and Perry discuss death, I believe is the moment McNally's capital-T Truth is put on full display: someday "none of us will be."
I like what you said about the only capital-T truth of the play being the finality of death. This is something that I had thought about when reading this play, but for some reason could not bring words to what I was thinking. This is what I was thinking. It very clearly defines the rules of this world and also speaks to the motivations of each character.
ReplyDeleteVery well put. I also agree with what Joshua said: you put this all into really clear statements, and I wish I would have read it sooner! I would have understood the play so much better. The prominence of the capital-T Truth being death is extreme, and yet I didn't really notice it. Thanks for making this so understandable!
ReplyDeleteI agree that this play had to fit our everyday world to get the point across. It had to be very realistic in order for the world to understand what's happening in order to better humanity or whatnot. That is interesting that "death is the only certainty" so to them, I feel like it was only right to have a good time or at least try.
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