After watching the Edward Albee interview I thought I would gain a new sense of appreciation for the man and his work. However, his personal demeanor was too condescending and haughty for me to overlook. He treated the interviewer as if he was a bafoon, a non-playwright unable to understand the subtle nature of great playwrights. Of course a pause can be specific!
One thing that I did not understand was his reluctance to admit his personal history's obviously heavy influence on his work. His play Three Tall Women was modeled after the life of his late adoptive mother, even including his return to her life prior to her death. What about the fact that his adoptive family ran a string of successful vaudeville theaters? Could the fact that he became a writer for the stage have been influenced by an early exposure to theater?
I was, though, rather impressed with his life. He lived during one of the most formative times for artists and was able to rub shoulders with some of the most popular artists of our generation. I am also impressed with his ability to transcend the stage. His works are some of the last highly successful pieces that went from the stage to the big screen and remained profitable.
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