When middle-aged Martha and her husband George are joined by the younger Nick and Honey for late-night drinks after a party, the stage is set for a night of drunken recriminations and revelations. Battle-lines are drawn as Martha and George drag their guests into their own private hell of a marriage. (20000914)
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Review
"An intensity, a demoniac misery, a ferocious humour...no one can remain indifferent to its power, its resilience of ideas and its range of language" (Sunday Times )
"Deliciously toxic, acidly funny" (Washington Post )
"There is a great sense of danger in Edward's work, and you never quite know what's going to happen next... I think what is one of the most pronounced ingredients in his work is mischief" (Harold Pinter )
"Scorching and exhilarating" (New York Post )
"The verbal sparring and violence of Albee's early masterpiece remain astonishing, even frightening, yet bitterly, horribly funny...a classic play" (The Times )
"Deliciously toxic, acidly funny" (Washington Post )
"There is a great sense of danger in Edward's work, and you never quite know what's going to happen next... I think what is one of the most pronounced ingredients in his work is mischief" (Harold Pinter )
"Scorching and exhilarating" (New York Post )
"The verbal sparring and violence of Albee's early masterpiece remain astonishing, even frightening, yet bitterly, horribly funny...a classic play" (The Times )
Book Description
'Martha: Look, sweetheart, I can drink you under any goddamn table you want...so don't worry about me!
George: Martha, I gave you the prize years ago...There isn't an abomination award going that you...
Martha: I swear...if you existed I'd divorce you...'
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
10 of 10 people found the following review helpful
By "30534"
Format:Paperback
Albee's most renowned, and perhaps greatest play, "Who's afraid of Virginia Woolf?", is a work of seminal genius. Set in a single room over the course of one night, alcoholics, George and Martha, play host to young couple Nick and Honey. In due course, each character becomes increasingly intoxicated, and drop hints and information about their lives.
Written in a colloquial manner, imitating authentic speech, Albee creates a beautifuly paced and written satire on American society. Originally rejected by many critics of the time as "vulgar", the play now stands as one of literay's finest works. This really is an essential read.
Frankly, Albee has constructed a masterpiece, capable of deep meaning and satitre, yet at the same time criticing American society with sardonic bitterness.
6 of 6 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Edward Albee is a criminally underrated playwright of an era which produced similarly brilliant artists like Arthur Miller, Tennessee Williams and Eugene O'Neill. Albee is right up there with the greatest of the greats, with this, his most famous play.
'Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?' is shocking, disturbing, and profoundly thought-provoking. The amalgamation of imported European absurdism and harsh, biting realism is skilfully managed to produce a piece of drama so equally sad, haunting and hilarious. There are some brilliant lines to come out of this text - Albee makes you laugh out loud at the weird and wonderful world of George and Martha (named for the Washingtons) as he paints his portrait of a warped marriage, so at odds with the American Dream.
The play centres around two couples: George and Martha - who express their love for one another through dysfunctional bickering, cutting insults and vitriolic disgust - and Nick and Honey, the guests of the older couple's bizarre performance. The hosts proceed to enact a metatheatrical performance within a performance, but with shattering results for all parties. The characters are full of life, full of laughter, tears, bitter disappointment, love, hate - they are, for all the absurdism, frighteningly real.
I would definitely recommend this play to anyone looking for a disturbing, upsetting, hilarious and deeply insightful performance, and a masterclass in the best of post-war American drama. Truly a wonderful work which should survive for generations to come.
'Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?' is shocking, disturbing, and profoundly thought-provoking. The amalgamation of imported European absurdism and harsh, biting realism is skilfully managed to produce a piece of drama so equally sad, haunting and hilarious. There are some brilliant lines to come out of this text - Albee makes you laugh out loud at the weird and wonderful world of George and Martha (named for the Washingtons) as he paints his portrait of a warped marriage, so at odds with the American Dream.
The play centres around two couples: George and Martha - who express their love for one another through dysfunctional bickering, cutting insults and vitriolic disgust - and Nick and Honey, the guests of the older couple's bizarre performance. The hosts proceed to enact a metatheatrical performance within a performance, but with shattering results for all parties. The characters are full of life, full of laughter, tears, bitter disappointment, love, hate - they are, for all the absurdism, frighteningly real.
I would definitely recommend this play to anyone looking for a disturbing, upsetting, hilarious and deeply insightful performance, and a masterclass in the best of post-war American drama. Truly a wonderful work which should survive for generations to come.
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
By L Richards
Format:Paperback
I'm performing whoose afraid of Virginia Woolf as part of my as-level theatre studies exam and found this copy perfect. Although it doesnt have any aditional information on the play within the text it is perfect for those wanting a straight copy of the play but not great for those using it as an english text. Also most importantly, unlike many scripts the page thickness was great for use of highlighters which was essential as we wanted to use it as a practical play scipt and not just for study.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
Play script
Good clean copies promptly received. A real classic of the theatre. A play that is worth reviving and should be seen again.
Published 13 months ago by Mrs. B. Wolfenden
3.0 out of 5 stars
Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf
Thai is a powerful play exposing the emotions of four people. That it holds together is due to the mastery of the author, Edward Albee. Read more
Published 19 months ago by George Redgrave
5.0 out of 5 stars
Simply Brilliant!
While this play may put people off because of its literary title, it is simply brilliant. The contempt between Martha and George is masterfully portrayed, and I would recommend... Read more
Published 19 months ago by Verbal Question Mark
5.0 out of 5 stars
A tense and disturbing piece of drama
Before embarking on a reading of this play be warned that the entire piece is an emotional onslaught as family values are attacked, the entire concept of marriage is undermined and... Read more
Published on 6 Jun 2005 by "playgirlsw18"
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great play!
This play is incredibly intense- the characters are so wrought up in a hell, the hell of America during this period, the hell of the Cold War and history's imprint on the future as... Read more
Published on 8 Jan 2005 by G. Stephens
5.0 out of 5 stars
Brilliant!
I have just watched a production of who's afraid of virginia woolf in Queens University Belfast and I must admit that this dark tragi-comedy is one of the most enjoyable yet... Read more
Published on 20 Nov 2004
5.0 out of 5 stars
A Breath-Taking Masterpiece...
Wow. I never thought I could like a play so much. I had to read this for a class in college, so I admit that I didn't know what I was in for. Read more
Published on 30 Dec 2003 by Michael Crane
4.0 out of 5 stars
A great, criminally under-read book ...
'Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf' is a haunting black comedy in three acts, by Edward Albee, published and produced in 1962. Read more
Published on 5 Nov 2003 by Stephen Knowles
4.0 out of 5 stars
A Classic.
Albee is my favourite writer. Everyone says Who Is Afraid Of Virginia Woolf? is a classic, specially with the famous movie and all, but personally I like some other, not so known... Read more
Published on 19 Sep 2000
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