august: osage county studyguide

A Supplementary Study GuidePrepared by David Mackay

and Shanna Tedeschi

Table of Contents

August: Osage County Summary

Theme Spotlight: Mothers and Daughters

Theme Spotlight: Addiction

Production History

Tracy Letts’ Biography

Discussion Questions

Dramatic Essay: Tracy Letts and the American Dysfunctional Family Drama

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August: Osage County Summary

P r o l o g u e

Beverly, the patriarch of the Weston family in Pawhuska, Oklahoma, interviewsJohnna, a young Cheyenne Native American woman for a position to cook andcareforhiswife,VioletWeston.BevwarnsJohnnathatVioletisaddictedtoseveralprescriptiondrugsandsusceptibletoextrememoodshifts.Violet,clearlyundertheinfluenceofherdrugs,descendsthestairsandbrieflyinterruptsbeforeretreatingagain.Beverly,whoasbeendrinkingsteadilyduringJohnna’sinterview,hiresJohnnaandendsthescenebyominouslyquotingT.S.Eliot’spoem,TheHollowMen.

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Elena Araoz as Johnna Monevata and David Howey as Beverly Weston in Arden Theatre Company’s production of August: Osage County.Photo by Mark Garvin.

August: Osage County - Act II Summary

A c t O n e Fivedayslater,the

extendedWestonfamilygatherstosupportVioletbecauseBeverlyWestonhasgonemissing.Ivy,VioletandBev’smiddledaughter,livesnearbyandisthefirsttoarrive

soonfollowedbyViolet’syoungersister,MattieFae,whohasdriveninfromTulsawithherhusbandCharlie.WhiletheytrytogiveVioletsomecomfort,Sheviciously

dismissesthem,insteadwaitingoneldestdaughterBarbara.Barbara,enterswithhusband,Bill,fromwhomsheisseparated,afactbeingkeptfromtherestofthe

family..Whiletryingtosettledownforthenight,BarbarachastisesBillforhisrecentinfidelitywithoneofhiscollegestudents.BilltriestoplacateBarbara,butsherefusestobeconsoledandbitterlyconfidesthatshebelievesherfatherisdead.Their

fourteen-year-old,pot-smoking,daughter,JeanbefriendsJohnnainthebedroomupstairsintheattic.SleepforallisinterruptedbytheentranceofSheriffGilbeau.

Heconfirmstheworst:Beverly’sbodyhasbeenfoundinthelake.The,drowningispresumedtobesuicide.TheSheriffenlistsBarbaratocomeidentifythebody.Attheact’sclose,Violetemergesfromherbedroominthethroesofadruginducedbinge.

August: Osage County - Act I Summary

Kevin Bergen as Sheriff Deon Gilbeau and Carla Belver as Violet Weston in Arden Theatre Company’s production of August: Osage County.

Photo by Mark Garvin.

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August: Osage County - Act II Summary

A c t T w o

ThefamilyreturnshomefromBev’sfuneral.KarenBarbaraandIvy’syoungersisterpersuadesBarbarathatherlifeisinordernowthatsheisengagedtomarrySteve,afifty-year-oldentrepreneur.Meanwhile,upstairs,VioletandMattieFaegoadIvyaboutherpersonallife,Ivyisonlyabletoextricateherselfbyadmittingthatshehasaboyfriend.Inthelivingroom,Steveflirtatiouslypromisestore-stockJean’spotsupply,whichhasrunlow.CharlesandMattieFae’sne’er-do-wellson,LittleCharlesshowsup,distraughtthatheoversleptandmissedthefuneral.IvysecretlygreetsLittleCharles,herfirstcousinandlover,andtheyaffirmtheirplantoescapethefamilyandmovetoNewYorktogether.AstheWestonentireclanproceedtothedinnertable,argumentsandfamilytensionsescalateinfrustration.,Adrug-emboldenedVioletflexesherviciouspoweroverherfamily,beratingthemcollectivelyandindividually.ButBarbaraviolentlyjumpstodefendherselfandtheothers,andconfronthermother’sdrugaddiction.TheyrestrainViolet,andbeginahunttocollectthedrugsandreclaimthehouse.

photo by PlehalPhotography.com

Some of the cast of the Arden’s August: Osage County

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August: Osage County - Act III Summary

A c t T h r e e

ThefollowingdayandtheWestonsistersmustdeviseahealthplanforVioletwho,accordingtothedoctor,mayhavesufferedbraindamage.Morelucidnowthat she is off her drugs, Violet, remains incorrigible with her daughters, butconcedes thatshewilldealwithher illnesson their terms. While interrogatingBarbaraaboutLittleCharlesand Ivy’s relationship,MattieFae confessesadarksecret.LittleCharlesistheillegitimatesonfromatrystbetweenherandBeverly,herbrother-in-law.LittleCharlesandIvyarehalf-brotherandsister,ThenewsstunsBarbara.Latethatnight,Karen’sfiancé,Steve,andJean,whoisonlyfourteenyearsold,gethighonmarijuana.JustasStevebeginstomakesexualadvances,Johnnacomestotherescue,withafryingpan.Theruckusawakensthefamily.Barbara,lashesoutatJeanandconfrontsKarenoverherfiancé’sdeplorablebehavior.KarenjustifiesSteve’sactionsandblamesJeanforwhathappened.SheandStevedepartinahuff.Billtoo,leavesBarbara,takingJeanwithhim,.Later,Barbarahurtandlost,seekscomfortinthearmsofSheriffGilbeauandindrink.IvycomesforafinalfarewellbeforeleavingforanewlifeinNewYorkwithLittleCharlesViolet,selfishly determined to stop her, tells her the truth – Little Charles is her half-brother. As a distraught Ivy runs from the house, Barbara on her mother. Infurious confrontation, Violet attacks Barbara, accusing her of having abdicatedher familial responsibilities. Violet boasts of her own strength and reveals sheherselfknewofBeverely’sintentions,andmighthavepreventedhisdeath.Barbara,devastated,leavesthehouse;Violet,desperateandalone,crawlsuptotheattictoJohnna,whogentlyrecitesfromT.S.Eliot’spoem“TheHollowMen:”“Thisisthewaytheworldends,thisisthewaytheworldends”.

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ThewomenoftheWestonfamilyhavecomplicatedrelationshipstotheirmotherBeverlyandamongeachother.Readtheirprofilesbelowandexplorethisthemewiththediscussiononthefollowingpage.

Violet Weston (Carla Belver): The devious matriarch. She has lost her husband. She isaddictedtopainkillers(andanyotherpillshecanpop).Shesuffersfromcancerofthemouth.Butthatdoesn’tstopherfromspewinghercynicismorherhilariouslysinisterinsults.

Barbara Fordham (Grace Gonglewski): Theeldestdaughter.Inmanyways,Barbaraisthestrongestandmostsympatheticcharacter.Throughouttheplayshetriestogaincontrolofherchaoticmother,herdilapidatedmarriage,andherpot-smoking14yearolddaughter.

Ivy Weston (Corninna Burns):Themiddledaughter.Aquietlibrarian,stereotypicallymousy.Ivyhasstayedclosetohome,unliketheothererrantWestonsisters.ThismeansIvyhashadtoenduretheacidtongueofhermother.Shehasbeenmaintainingasecretloveaffairwithherfirstcousin.(AndifyouthinkthatsoundslikeaJerrySpringerepisode,justwaittillyoureadActThree!)

Karen Weston (Kathryn Peterson): The youngest daughter. She claims to have beenunhappyherentireadultlife,promptinghertomoveawayfromthefamilyandresideinFlorida.However,shereturnstotheWestonhomebringingalongafiancéintow–asuccessful50yearoldbusinessmanwho,unbeknownsttoKaren,turnsouttobythemostloathsomecharacterwithintheplay.

Jean Fordham (Dylan Gelula):Barbara’sdaugtherandViolet’sgranddaughter.An outspokenfourteenyearold,whoiswiserthanheryears,findssolaceinoldmoviesandmarijuana.A voiceofreasonintheunreasonableWestonhousehold,shebecomesthevictimofherauntKaren’s fiancewhomakessexualadvancestowardsher.

Johnna Monevata (Elena Aranoz): The Native-American live-in housekeeper. She ishiredbyBeverly justdaysbeforehisdisappearance.Shemaynothavemanylines,butshe is themostcompassionateandmorallygroundedofallthecharacters.Sheclaimstostayinthecaustichouseholdsimplybecausesheneeds the job.Yet, thereare timeswhensheswoops in likeawarrior-angel, savingcharactersfromdespairanddestruction.

Source: http://plays.about.com/od/plays/a/augustosage.htm

Theme Spotlight: Mothers and Daughters

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InTracyLetts’play,mothersanddaughtersaremorelikelytoverballyandphysicallyabuseoneanotherratherthanexhibitkindness.

InActOne,Violetcontinuallyasksforhereldestdaughter.ShedependsonBarbara’semotionalstrengthduringthisfamilycrisis.

Yet,atthesametime,VioletcruellypointsoutBarbara’sadvancingage,herevaporatedbeauty,andherfailedmarriage

–allissuesthatBarbarawishestobeleftunspoken.Barbararespondsbyputtingastoptohermother’spilladdiction.

Sheralliestherestofthefamilyintointerventionmode.Butthismightbelessoftough-loveandmoreofapower-play.

DuringActTwo’sclimactic“familydinnerfromhell,”Barbarathrottleshermotherandthendeclares,“Youdon’tgetit,doyou?I’MRUNNINGTHINGSNOW!”

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Theme Spotlight: Mothers and Daughters

Eric Hissom as Bill Fordham and Grace Gonglewski as Barbara Fordham in Arden Theatre Company’s production of August: Osage County.

Photo by Mark Garvin.

Grace Gonglewski as Barbara Fordham and Carla Belver as Violet Weston in Arden Theatre Company’s production of August: Osage County. Photo by Mark Garvin.

Family Dinner

photo by Mark Garvin.

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Thesewomenandtheirrelativemenarepartofasevere family dysfunction.Adultsraisedwithfamilydysfunctionreportavarietyoflong-termeffects.

Thefollowingquestionsmayhelpyouassessyourownfamilysituation.

Answering“Yes”tothesemayindicatesomeeffectsfromfamilydysfunction.Mostpeoplecouldlikelyidentifywithsomeofthem.

Ifyoufindyourselfanswering“Yes”tooverhalfofthem,youlikelyhavesomelong-termeffectsoflivinginadysfunctionalfamily.

Which of these attributes do you see in the play’s characters?

1.Doyoufindyourselfneedingapprovalfromotherstofeelgoodaboutyourself?Yes_____No_____2.Doyouagreetodomoreforothersthanyoucancomfortablyaccomplish?Yes_____No_____3.Areyouperfectionistic? Yes_____No_____4.Ordoyoutendtoavoidorignoreresponsibilities? Yes_____No_____5.Doyoufinditdifficulttoidentifywhatyou’refeeling? Yes_____No_____6.Doyoufinditdifficulttoexpressfeelings? Yes_____No_____7.Doyoutendtothinkinall-or-nothingterms? Yes_____No_____8.Doyouoftenfeellonelyeveninthepresenceofothers? Yes_____No_____9.Isitdifficultforyoutoaskforwhatyouneedfromothers? Yes_____No_____10.Isitdifficultforyoutomaintainintimaterelationships? Yes_____No_____11.Doyoufinditdifficulttotrustothers? Yes_____No_____12.Doyoutendtohangontohurtfulordestructiverelationships? Yes_____No_____13.Areyoumoreawareofothers’needsandfeelingsthanyourown? Yes_____No_____14.Doyoufinditparticularlydifficulttodealwithangerorcriticism? Yes_____No_____15.Isithardforyoutorelaxandenjoyyourself? Yes_____No_____16.Doyoufindyourselffeelinglikea“fake”inyouracademicorprofessionallife? Yes_____No_____17.Doyoufindyourselfwaitingfordisastertostrikeevenwhenthingsaregoingwellinyourlife? Yes_____No_____18.Doyoufindyourselfhavingdifficultywithauthorityfigures? Yes_____No_____

Source:http://www.k-state.edu/counseling/topics/relationships/dysfunc.html

Theme Spotlight: Mothers and Daughters

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Prescriptiondrugsarethesecondmostcommonlyabusedcategoryofdrugs,behindmarijuanaandaheadofcocaine,heroin,methamphetamineandotherdrugs.TheNationalInstitutesofHealthestimatesthatnearly20percentofpeopleintheUnitedStateshaveusedprescriptiondrugsfornon-medicalreasons.

Someprescriptiondrugscanbecomeaddictive,especiallywhentheyareusedinamannerinconsistentwiththeirlabelingorforreasonstheywerenotprescribed.ThoseincludenarcoticpainkillerslikeOxyContinorVicodin,sedativesandtranquilizerslikeXanaxorValium,andstimulantslikeDexedrine,AdderallorRitalin.

In2000,about43percentofhospitalemergencyadmissionsfordrugoverdoses(nearly500,000people)happenedbecauseofmisusedprescriptiondrugs.Thistypeofdrugabuseisincreasingpartiallybecauseoftheavailabilityofdrugs,includingonlinepharmaciesthatmakeiteasiertogetthedrugswithoutaprescription,evenforminors.

Theremayalsobeaperception,especiallyamongyoungerpeople,thatprescriptiondrugsaresaferthanillegalstreetdrugs.Mostpeopledon’tlockuptheirprescriptionmedications,nordotheydiscardthemwhentheyarenolongerneededfortheirintendeduse,makingthemvulnerabletotheftormisuse.

Prescriptiondrugabuseisgenerallythesamebetweenmenandwomen,exceptamong12to17yearolds.Inthisagegroup,researchconductedbytheNationalInstituteonDrugAbusefoundthatfemalesaremorelikelytousepsychotherapeuticdrugsfornon-medicalpurposes.Researchhasalsoshownthatwomeningeneralaremorelikelytousenarcoticpainrelieversandtranquilizersfornon-medicalpurposes.

Thenumberofteensandyoungadults(ages12to25)whowerenewabusersofprescriptionpainkillersgrewfrom400,000inthemid-’80sto2millionin2000,accordingtoastudybytheSubstanceAbuseandMentalHealthServicesAdministration.Newmisusersoftranquilizers,whicharenormallyusedtotreatanxietyortension,increasednearly50percentbetween1999and2000alone.

InastudyofstudentsinWisconsinandMinnesota,34percentofkidsdiagnosedwithAttentionDeficitHyperactivityDisorder(ADHD)saidtheyhadbeenapproachedtosellortradetheirRitalinorAdderall,twodrugscommonlyusedtotreatsymptomsofADHD.

ThegrowingpopulationofagingBabyBoomersarealsoprimecandidatesforprescriptiondrugabuse,intentionalornot,asaretheelderly.Oncesomeonebeginstakinganumberofpillsforthingslikemanagingbloodpressureandcholesterol,itbecomeseasiertotakenarcoticpainkillers,prescriptionsleepaidsandother,moreaddictivedrugs.Italsoincreasestheriskofnegativeandpossiblyfatalinteractionsbetweendrugs,especiallywhentheyarenotusedasprescribed.

Drugaddictionisabiological,pathologicalprocessthataltershowthebrainfunctions.Prolongeddrugusechangesthebraininfundamentalandlong-lastingways.Theselong-lastingchangesareamajorcomponentoftheaddictionitself.Itisasthoughthereisafigurative“switch”inthebrainthat“flips”atsomepointduringanindividual’sdruguse.Thepointatwhichthis“flip”occursvariesfromindividualtoindividual,buttheeffectofthischangeisthetransformationofadrugabusertoadrugaddict.

Source:http://www.prescription-drug-abuse.org/

Theme Spotlight: Addiction

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The Cycle of Addiction

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Writing Activity: Acting Addiction

Actorsplayingcharactersstrugglingwithdrugaddictionmustlearnhowitfeelsemotionallyandphysicallytobeaddictedandaccuratelyrepresentthistotheaudience.Ifyouwereplayingacharacterthatwasaddictedtoprescriptiondrugs,thefollowingactivitycouldassistyouinmakingtheaddictionappear“real”onstage.

Thinkofatimewhenyourbodywasunderalargeamountofstress,forexamplebecauseofillness,lackofsleep,overexertionwhileplayingasport,etc.Describethephysicalaspectsofthisstress:

Howdidvariouspartsofyourbodyreact?Didyoushake?Whicheyetwitched?Whatwasthequalityofthetwitch?Howdidyoufeelemotionally?Didyoumoodschangerapidly?Didyoucryorscream?Whatthoughtsdidyouhave?Wasyourthinkingnormaloraltered?Didyousee,hearorsmellanythingthatwasn’tthere?Didyouhaveirrationalthoughts?Howdidpeoplearoundyourespondtoyourbehavior?Didtheirresponsealteryourfeelingorbehavior?

Trytobeasvividaspossibleinordertomakeyourreaderfeelthephysicalpain,exhaustion,exertion,etc.

Theme Spotlight: Addiction

Production History

TheoriginalproductionwasproducedbySteppenwolfTheatreCompany,inChicago,andwasperformedintheDownstairsTheatreJune28,2007—August26,2007.

ThecastprominentlyfeaturedmembersoftheSteppenwolfEnsemble,manyofwhomhadbeenworkingtogetherfordecades.

TheBroadwayproductionopenedDecember4th2007,attheImperialTheatreandranfor648performances.

InNovember2008,August: Osage CountymadeitsUKdebutatLondon’sNationalTheatre.

AUSNationalTourbeganinJuly2009atDenver’sEllieCalukinsOperaHouse.Thisproductionwentontotourthroughoutthecountry.

InternationallytheplaymadeitsIsraelidebutattheHabimaTheatreinTelAvivinJanuary2009.InMarch2009,theplaymadeitsPuertoRicandebutattheReneMarquez

TheaterHallinSanJuan.TheArtsCentrePlayhouseinMelbourne,AustraliapresentedtheplayinMay2009.Otherinternationalproductionsinclude,Mannheim,Germany,asat

theNationaltheaterunderthetitleEine Familie(Germanfor“Afamily”)andinVienna,AustriaattheAkademietheater.

The Steppenwolf Theatre Company, in conjunction with the Sydney Theatre Company,openedaproductioninSydney,AustraliainAugust2010.

EdwardSobel,ArdenTheatre’sownAssociateArtisticDirector,servedasdramaturgforthepremiereSteppenwolfandBroadwayproductions.

TheplayreceivedthePulitzerPrizeforDrama,theTonyAwardforBestPlay,theDramaDesk,OuterCriticsCircle,andNewYorkDramaCriticsCircleawards.Itcontinuestobe

producedthroughouttheUnitedStates,andworldwide.

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Tracy Letts’ Biography

Lettswasbornin1965inTulsa,Oklahoma.HewasraisedinaveryacademichouseholdinDurant,Oklahomawherebothofhisparents taughtatOklahomaSoutheasternStateUniversity. He has two siblings, Dana and Shawn, a jazz musician and composer. LettsgraduatedfromDurantHighSchoolintheearly1980’s.Fromthere,hemovedtoDallas,Texas,waitingtablesandworkingintelemarketingwhilehestartedasanactor.

Attheageof20,LettsmovedtoChicagoandworkedforthenextelevenyearsasastageactor,includingworkwithSteppenwolfTheatreCompany.HewasafoundingmemberofBangBangSpontaneousTheatre.In1991,Lettswrotetheplay Killer Joe.Twoyearslater,theplaypremieredattheNextLabTheaterinChicago,followedbythe29thStreetRepinNYC.Sincethen,Killer Joehasbeenperformedinatleast15countriesin12languages.

Letts’s previous Steppenwolf productions as an actor include American Buffalo, Betrayal, The Pillowman, Last of the Boys, The Pain and the Itch, The Dresser, Homebody/Kabul, The Dazzle, Glengarry Glen Ross(alsoDublinandToronto),Three Days of Rain,manyothers.Otherproductionsinclude:Orson’s Shadow(BarrowSt.,NY);Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? (Alliance, Atlanta);The Caine Mutiny Court-Martial (RedOrchid);Conquest of the South Pole (Famous Door); Bouncers (the Next Lab). - TV and Film:Guinevere, U.S. Marshals, Profiler, Prison Break, Seinfeld, Home Improvement,manyothers.Asaplaywright,heisalsotheauthor,Bug(alsoscreenplay),Man from Nebraska(Pulitzerfinalist),August: Osage County(PulitzerPrize,TonyAwardforBestPlay)andSuperior Donuts,producedattheArdeninMarch2011.

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Tracy Letts’ Biography

HismotherBillieLettsisanovelist,andherparentsservedasthemodelforthecharactersBeverlyandVioletWestoninAugust: Osage County.HisfatherDennisLettswasanEnglishprofessorturnedactorwhooriginatedtheroleofBeverlyWestoninAugust:OsageCountyattheSteppenwolf.DennisLettsdiedofcancerearlyintotheBroadwayruninFebruary2008.

LettscontinuestoworkinChicagoasanEnsembleMemberoftheSteppenwolfTheatre,andmostrecentlyappearedasGeorgeinWho’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf, whichiscurrentlyplayingattheArenaStageandheadedtoBroadway.

http://www.avltheatre.com/forte/2007/04/featured_post_tracy_letts_is_p.html

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Discussion Questions

Whatthesignificanceoftheplay’stitle?Howdoestheplay’slocationimpactthestorytell-ing?Whatroledoesthetimeofyearplay?

Compareandcontrastthedifferentgenerationsintheplay.Howdotheerasinwhichthecharacterswereraisedaffecttheirviewoftheworld?Considerwhatotherinfluencesmightengendertheirperspective.

Violetdeclaresbytheplay’send,“Nothingisstrongerthanme.”Inwhatwaysdoessheex-udeherclaim?Inwhatwaysdoesshecontradictit?WhencedoesVioletderiveherstrength?

Whatuniversaltruthsaboutfamiliesdoestheplayembody?TowhatdegreeistheWestonfamilyrepresentativeofAmericansocietyinthe21stCentury?

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Dramatic Essay

Tracy Letts and the American Dysfunctional Family DramabyDavidMackay

O’Neill.Albee.Miller.Letts?

TracyLetts’sinductionintothepantheonofgreatAmericanplaywrightsmaytakemoretimethanthemercurialpacewithwhichAugust: Osage Countyarrivedontheworldthe-atrescene.BetweenAugust2007andNovember2008,August: Osage CountypremieredinChicago,wenttoBroadway,andthentraveledtoLondon’sWestEndgarneringrichpraisefortheplay,castandproduction.Alongthewayofthisfrantictheatricaljourney,LettsreceivedaTonyAward,aDramaDeskAwardandthePulitzerPrizeforDrama,allinrec-ognitionofhiswriting.Reviewsbegantoincludethebyline‘bestnewAmericanplayofthecentury’.Headystuffforaproductionthatlacked21stCenturyhyper-theatricalgadgetrysuchaslife-sizehorsepuppets,flyingmeninspidercostumesandmoviestars-cum-stageplayers.Instead,Letts,likemanyoftheheavyweightdramatistsofthelastcentury,foundhismuseintheAmericanfamilycloset,stillhauntedbyamultitudeofskeletons.August: Osage Countyisnotthereturnoffamilydramastageplay.DavidLyndsay-Abaire’sThe Rabbit Hole,whichexplorestheharrowingordealofafamilydealingwiththedeathofachild,receivedthePulitzerPrizeforDramaonlytheyearbeforeLettswon.(Ardenpro-ducedThe Rabbit Holeinthe2009/10season).Yet,Lettsdeliversusalargesprawlingepicfamilydrama,whichechoescharacters,plot,anddialogueofEugeneO’Neill,EdwardAlbeeandArthurMiller.

FromO’Neill’sLong Day’s Journey into Night,LettsconjuresavisionofMaryTyrone,themorphineentrancedmother,whoseaddictionwreaksguiltandhumiliationuponherchildren.Butopposedtobeingwaif-likeinherstuporwithoccasionalflaresofmalice,VioletchannelsAlbee’scorrosive-tonguedMarthafromWho’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf.Violet,likeMartha,usesruthlessprecisiontominesweepherfamily’spsycheanddetonatevulnerablesoftspots.AndakintoMiller’sDeath of a Salesman,Lett’srootsthesuffering

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Dramatic Essay (cont.)

tery,losesrespectforhisfather,andbyacquiringthisknowledge;Biffisemptiedofhisam-bitiontosucceedinlife.Similarly,Violet’slifeforceisunderminedbyherhusband’saffairwithhersister,MattieFae.However,August: Osage Countyisnotmerelypayinghomagetothetraditionalthree-actdramaportrayingthedysfunctionalAmericanfamilyderailedbysecrets.Therevealoffamilytaboosinatwentiethcenturydramastillhadthepoten-tialtoreverberatewithshockinthecontextofawell-structureddrama.Butinourageof“Googleit,andapictureappearsofit”thereappearstobelittlelefttoshockourcollectiveimagination.Lettsembracesourexpose-allculture,andratherthanrevealtheWestonfamilytaboosassecrets,heinfuseshisintergenerational-characterswithdifferentsetofskillsindenyingortacklingskeletons.Barbara,alsohurtbyherhusband’sextramaritalaffair,refusestosuccumbtohumiliatingsenseofdefeat,butrather,shechallengeshermother’stotalitarianmatriarchywithakamikazeattack.LettsdivulgestheWestonfamilysecretswithoutdrenchingtheminthecurseofsocialscandaland/orindividualguilt.Butrather,heuseshumorandcharacter’sdecisiveactioninordertorehabilitatedrugad-dicts,reprimandinappropriatesexualbehavior,whilesimultaneouslysanctioningalovethatsocietytraditionallyscorns.Ultimately,Barbarachoosesnottoinformhersister,IvythatherloverLittleCharlesisherbiologicalstepbrother.Shechoosestoleaveherabusivemother.Shemayhavehelpedrehabilitatehermotherfromthecurseofaddiction,butshewillnoteducateherinwaysofhumandecency.Whatdefinesthelawsofhumandecencyisaslipperyandeverchangingdefinition.However,earlyintoanewcentury,August: Osage CountyoffersadelectablevariationontheAmericandysfunctionalfamily.Whether,Letts’swilljointheranksofO’Neill,MilllerandAlbee,istoosoontotell.ButlikemostpotentialHallofFameinductees,timeisthebestjudgeastowhetherAugust: Osage Countywillresonatetofuturegenerations.

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