The end of WHO'S AFRAID OF VIRGINIA WOOLF?

[WiCkEDrOcKS]

Posted: 6/3/06 at 4:54pm

I just finished reading the play and I found it to be phenomenal. A masterpiece in every way, shape, and form. I don't know why though, but I'm a little fuzzy as to what happened at the end. Maybe I need to see it performed to really understand it...I dont know...anyway, I think I kind of understand what happened but if someone could explain it to me, that'd be great...thanks.

[WiCkEDrOcKS]

Posted: 6/3/06 at 5:01pm

Also, I didn't get the whole "Who's afraid of Virginia Woolf?" thing that George and Martha sing time and time again throughout the play...can someone clear that up for me as well?

[munkustrap178]

Posted: 6/3/06 at 6:17pm

Well, Virginia Woolf was known for writing brutally honest, utterly truthful and harsh characters and circumstances, a la "Mrs. Dalloway," among others. Always laying the bitter truth right out there on the table - no facades to hide behind, nothing sugar coated - everything is what it is, and is taken at face value.

The song "Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?", and the title for that matter, is basiicaly saying "Who is afraid to live their life without illusion?"

In the beginning, the song is sung as a party joke, and is referred to as an intellectual game song heard at Martha's father's party. All of the characters talk and joke about the song, and it gets many laughs.

At the end of the first act, George sings the song again in order to drown out Martha's bitter accusations and denunciations of him.

In act two, he sings it again to cover up knowledge that Martha and Nick are about to have sex with each other - one again, using it as a way to block out the truth - ignorance is bliss, basically.,

At the end of the play, he sings it as sort of a soothing lullabye to comfort Martha after her devastation of the "death" of their "son." Again, who is afraid to face reality?

Martha's "I am George...I am" is her confesion that she is agraid of Virginia Woolf - she's afraid of the reality of her life and the reality of their future together as a couple.

[munkustrap178]

Posted: 6/3/06 at 6:18pm

Oh, and if you only read the play and didn't see it, the song is sung to the tune of "Who's Afraid of the Big Bad Woolf."

[The Distinctive Baritone]

Posted: 6/3/06 at 6:54pm

I recently played Nick, and the director did a lot of research that she shared with us. The play was originally going to be called "Who's Afraid of the Big Bad Wolf?" (after the Disney three little pigs song), but for whatever reason (I think because of copyright) it was changed to what it is now. Albee has said "the big bad wolf" was supposed to represent life without illusion, which is what Martha must ultimately face.

P.S.: In case you didn't get it (as I didn't the first time), the son is made-up. George and Martha can't have children.

[munkustrap178]

Posted: 6/3/06 at 7:04pm

BASICALLY what I just said...

[Mr Roxy]

Posted: 6/3/06 at 7:05pm

The recent revival was great . The movie is also great in its own way

[munkustrap178]

Posted: 6/3/06 at 7:09pm

I agree. I love both of them. I like the cuts made to the film...and Liz Taylor's performance was absolute genius.

[Mr Roxy]

Posted: 6/3/06 at 7:13pm

Richard Burton was not chopped liver either. To think, he never won an oscar. He joins Alfred Hitchcock & Cary Grant as non receipients. Mind boggling

[fflagg]

Posted: 6/3/06 at 7:13pm

The recent revival was fair. The two supporting actors were more interesting than the leads. Please. Turner was playing herself :) and Irwin was not interesting.

How about a Brit cast of Miranda Richardson and Ralph Fiennes?

[munkustrap178]

Posted: 6/3/06 at 7:18pm

No, it seems so unfair, but atleast he was nominated for 7 Oscars and won 2 Golden Globes...

The recent revival was terrific. In fact, I was less crazy about the supporting actors. Kathleen Turner was a revelation, and Irwin was brilliant. Very glad he won the Tony.

I like the idea of Ralph Fiennes as George, but not a fan of Richardson as Martha. I think Zoe Wannamaker would be fabulous, as would Judi Dench - maybe 10 years ago.

[Yankeefan007]

Posted: 6/3/06 at 7:24pm

I read somewhere that Albee came up with the title after seeing it written on a wall in a gay bar bathroom....any truth?

[Mr Roxy]

Posted: 6/3/06 at 7:29pm

With Albee, anything is possible. WAOVW is probably one of the best american plays ever. The cast in the recent revival was superb. It is a shame serious drama like this cannot thrive on Broadway. Unfortunately, this does not sell to tourists

[GYPSY1527]

Posted: 6/3/06 at 8:59pm

I had the great fortune of seeing the recent revival twice including closing. It was a magical experience, one of the best I have ever had in the theater and everyone involved was brillant.

[WiCkEDrOcKS]

Posted: 6/3/06 at 9:15pm

Thanks Munk and everyone for clearing that up...but I'm still fuzzy about the whole son thing. Did they really have a child? Why do I recall George telling Nick, I think, about someone ELSE who had died the same way that he describes their son dying? I was just a little confused when it ended...

[WiCkEDrOcKS]

Posted: 6/3/06 at 9:17pm

Oh, and why does Martha accuse George of killing their son? Can we draw conclusions about which story was true regarding their son? Martha molesting him or George simply driving him out of the house?

[GovernorSlaton]

Posted: 6/3/06 at 9:28pm

From Distinctive Baritone's post:

"P.S.: In case you didn't get it (as I didn't the first time), the son is made-up. George and Martha can't have children."

[ruthiefan_felix]

Posted: 6/3/06 at 11:04pm

I saw the show in Ldn recently... WOW! GREAT performances! Very deep, but wow! just wow! sorry...

[munkustrap178]

Posted: 6/4/06 at 12:00am

No, they do not actually have chilren. For whatever reason, they cannot have children. This is just another example of how they are both living in dream worlds.

And in the end, when Martha is traumatized by the entire evening - George sings to Martha "Who's afraid of Virginia Woolf, Virginia Woolf, Virginia Woolf? Who's afraid of Virginia Woolf?..."

And she goes..."I am, George. I am."

Basically, he's saying, "Who's afraid to face the truth, Martha? Who? Who?"

She finally realises the truth - and it's probably the first time in her life that she's done that.

[StageManager2]

Posted: 6/4/06 at 12:25am

I once read that the author of the play saw "Who's afraid of Virginia Woolf?" scrawled in a men's bathroom and liked it so much that he used it for the title of his play.

[The Distinctive Baritone]

Posted: 6/4/06 at 2:11am

This is kind of a delayed reaction here, but Munk, let me just tell you that you are a litte b*tch.

[munkustrap178]

Posted: 6/4/06 at 2:16am

Yes, I have heard as well thate Albee got the inspiration from the walls of a bathroom.

Baritone: Yup. I know I am. Thanks for the compliment!

[The Distinctive Baritone]

Posted: 6/4/06 at 2:28am

OK, I had to chuckle at that

[YessicaB]

Posted: 6/4/06 at 10:44am

Thanks Munk. I searched for the thread since I was also confused about the "Who's afraid of Virginia Woolf"... I loved the play...

[WickedGeek28]

Posted: 6/4/06 at 10:57am

I'm also reading the play currently. I'm not reading the rest of the thread to avoid spoliers, but I'm at the end of act 2 and loving it!