I'm Afraid of Virginia Woolf

 Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?" is back on Broadway. The current revival of Edward Albee's play about a couple's tumultuous relationship stars Tracy Letts as George, an associate history professor married to the college president's daughter Martha.  Amy Morton plays Martha, and they invite new professor Nick (Madison Dirks) and his wife Honey (Carrie Coon) to their home after a party.  As both couples get even more inebriated, the evening quickly degenerates into cruel verbal "games" that leave no one unscathed.

Mr. Letts and Ms. Morton deliver extraordinary performances as the couple who've settled into a  bizarre, tempestuous marriage.  Their biting barbs makes one wonder why they've stayed together.  While admiring the cleverness of the verbiage, I started to get uncomfortable with the abuse they kept hurling at each other.  Not knowing anything about the plot, the play's conclusion left me reeling and shaking my head in disbelief.  But mostly, I felt sad for George and Martha.

The play is directed by Pam MacKinnon, previously Tony-nominated for Clybourne Park (which won Best Play). There are some similarities in the themes of the two plays. Both are viciously funny, and exposes the ugliness, as well as the vulnerability, of people in relationships.

Mr. Dirks and Ms. Coon are also exceptional as the younger couple who get caught in the middle of the brutal games that their older counterparts play.  Eventually, we see that they're not above the savagery either.

The play ends its run on 24 February 2013.

George and Martha

Just before the holidays I was able to see Steppenwolf Theatre's current production of Who's Afraid of Virginia Wolf starring Amy Morton and Tracy Letts. With it's theme, it's a pretty unusual production to see for the holidays.


The classic play by Edward Albee happens one night when a couple, George and Martha invite fellow academics Nick and Honey over to their house for post-party late night drinks. Nick and Honey are new to the university and George and Martha decide to extend their welcome to the new couple. Little did the young couple know what they were getting into. What follows is a horrifying night of drinking, insults and verbal rampage between their hosts. It bewildering how this new couple seem to be so fascinated with George and Martha while also being appalled by them. I guess it's like watching a train wreck, one couldn't just look away.


The play's title Who's Afraid of Virginia Wolf is a play of words between the song Who's Afraid of the Big Bad Wolf from the Disney cartoon Three Little Pigs and the name of the English novelist, Virginia Wolf. It deals mainly with the false realities and the co-dependent relationship between George and Martha exposed during that one night. One finds out that underneath all the verbal and physical attacks against each other, there is need and love for each other. It's a pretty sick relationship actually and I didn't find any sympathy towards these characters. In fact, if I were Nick and Honey, I would have left after that first outburst and wouldn't come back!

Though I didn't relish the theme of the play, that doesn't mean I didn't appreciate it. It's great writing. I do however, wonder what goes on in Edward Albee's mind to come up with a play such as this.


It's a huge kudos to the ensemble cast of Amy Morton (Martha), Tracy Letts (George), Madison Dirks (Nick) and Carrie Coon (Honey) for making me squirm uncomfortably in my seat. They bounced verbal fireworks off each other that I was caught off guard. I couldn't believe what was unfolding in front of me. They were so committed and every so convincing. Carrie Coon plays a really good drunk and one could see anger brewing in Amy Morton's eyes just before she would lash out. Tracy Letts has a more quiet and understated build up to a boil as George. It's such a great and cohesive production that I'm glad more people will be able to see it. As announced, it will also play at the Arena Theatre in DC from Feb. 25 to April 10, 2011 for their Albee Festival. Who's Afraid of Virginia Wolf current plays at the Steppenwolf Theatre until Feb. 13, 2011.


Some photos I took that night:

Steppenwolf's Regional Theatre Tony Award (this might be the closest I get to a Tony ha!)


Steppenwolf's National Arts Medal