august: osage county (playwright, play, film adapt.) Flashcards
Who is Tracy Letts?
actor, playwright, screenwriter
Where was Tracy Letts born?
Tulsa, Oklahoma
Is the play autobiographical?
no, but it is slightly based on his life
Are there references to his family in the play?
many to his mom but dad similar to patriarch
What awards did this play win?
2008 Pulitzer Prize
2008 Tony Award for the best new play
What awards has Tracy won?
2013 Best Actor Award for Who’s Afraid of Virginia Wolf?
What are things to take note of in the play?
detailed set
for multigenerational family gathering
huge cast
expensive to produce
larger social commentary bc of housekeeper
What was the quote by Robert Penn Warren about?
Family (similar to the lullaby about family in golden child)
Things to focus on about the play
visual exposition
realism, family drama
structure of the play
language, literacy, wit, dark humor
What does the safety deposit box symbolize?
a box of secrets
What does illness/cancer (mouth and cervical) symbolize)
irony about violet
What quote symbolizes retrospective action?
thank god we can’t tell the future. we’d never get out of bed.
What does Oklahoma (the plains) symbolize?
the state of mind and spiritual affection