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A CurtainUp Review
Edward Albee's The Goat or Who Is Sylvia?
The Plot for Those Who Can't Wait Until They See the Play
For our review of the play
go here To expand on Mr. Albee's own cryptic "It's about four humans and a goat and it involves relationships", the goat's name is Sylvia. And Sylvia is the Other Woman in Martin's life. He discovers his bent for bestiality during a trip in search of a country place. The house is found but Martin also has an unexpected epiphany when his eyes more or less lock and hold with those of a grazing goat. What couldn't or shouldn't happen, does.
As the play opens, Martin has been visiting this weird mistress at a country barn for months. He's sought help from group therapy sessions with others involved in bestiality (just type the word bestiality into your search engine and you'll be amazed how much of this is actually going on!). He feels guilty about not feeling guilty. He feels burdened by the weight of his secret and so confesses to Ross who is an old friend but hardly a good friend. Ross is shocked, disgusted and blows the whistle with a letter to Stevie.
Stevie realizes the letter is true as she recalls one conversation in which all this is alluded to but as a joke. The odd smell emanating from her beloved spouse's jacket takes on new meaning. The fight that follows blows the lid of everyone's happiness for, as Stevie sees it, this is a misstep that is beyond fixing. As she puts it "We have a straight line through life, right all the way to dying, but that's OK because it's a good line. . .so long as we don't screw up. . .And you've screwed up!"
Is this horrendous and absurd situation the nail in the marital coffin? A scene in which Billy tells Martin he loves him no matter what has happened holds out a ray of hope. Stevie's own unspeakable act -- the slaughter of Sylvia -- could be seen as hopeless or hopeful. The sacrificial goat has been offered to the gods so maybe, just maybe, this wounded family can move on -- together.
6, 500 Comparative Phrases including 800 Shakespearean Metaphors by CurtainUp's editor.
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