The Cocktail Hour (Plume)
by A. R. Gurney
List Price:
Our Price: $1.77
You Save: $8.23 (82%)
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Category: Book
See more book details and other editions
Book Summary Information
Author: A. R. GurneyEdition: Mass Market Paperback
Audio: English (Unknown); English (Original Language); English (Published)
Published: 1989-11-30
ISBN: 0452263387
Number of pages: 26
Publisher: Plume
Book Reviews of The Cocktail Hour (Plume)
Book Review: Tight
Summary: 4 Stars
A.R. Gurney's play premiered at the Old Globe Theatre in San Diego in June 1988 and then at the Promenade Theatre in New York in October of that year. It is a witty and urbane piece steeped in the reality of theatre. The main character John is a playwright who goes for cocktails and dinner at his parents' house. His father Bradley was a successful businessman. His mother Ann was a socialite. Sister Nina also comes for dinner, while all wait upon their brother Jigger who never arrives.
John is the black sheep of the family, never feeling like he has belonged. A playwright who also makes a living by working as an editor for a publishing company, John has written a play called "The Cocktail Hour." It is loosely based on his family; so he has come to ask their permission before he approves a proposed production in New York. His father Bradley explodes and writes a $20,000 check NOT to have the play produced. His mother Ann wishes he'd write a book instead since a book is so much less visible than a play. His sister Nina simply wants to have a bigger role in the play.
The dialogue is brisk and the banter witty as past resentments and misunderstandings are dredged. In John's play, he reveals that he feels he is not his father's biological son, which is why he feels as if he was not loved and has no connection to the father. This leads to the mother's confession about an affair with a stable attendant and her writing a book about it that she later burned. Meanwhile, John has connected his brother Jigger up with friends in California that have a boat company. Jigger has decided to settle for a pay cut to move to follow his dream and love of boats. This further complicates the emotions. The family's history of a long line of servants is reflected in the current help that may be called Shirley or Cheryl or some name that no family remember can quite recall. The gag is that the servant doesn't know a microwave from a warming oven and ruins the meal. Meanwhile the family's cocktail hour gets longer and more alcohol is consumed. Nina decides to go to Cleveland to raise dogs. Bradley takes back his check from John so that he can give the funds to Jigger for his move to California and to Nina for her dog raising in Cleveland. John decides that he does love his father and the play ends with a smile.
The dialogue is brisk and intelligently written. This tight little domestic comedy has its share of serious moments and laughs. A.R. Gurney has created a good script that provides an interesting evening of entertainment on the stage or on the page. Enjoy!
Performing Arts Books
Book Subjects
- Arts & Photography
- Biographies & Memoirs
- Business & Investing
- Children's Books
- Comics & Graphic Novels
- Computers & Internet
- Cooking, Food & Wine
- Entertainment
- Gay & Lesbian
- Health, Mind & Body
- History
- Home & Garden
- Horror
- Law
- Literature & Fiction
- Mystery & Thrillers
- Nonfiction
- Outdoors & Nature
- Parenting & Families
- Professional & Technical
- Reference
- Religion & Spirituality
- Romance
- Science
- Science Fiction & Fantasy
- Sports
- Teens
- Travel
Most talked about in Performing Arts Books
The Film Director: Updated for Today's Filmmaker, the Classic, Practical Reference to Motion Picture and Television Techniquesby Richard L. Bare
Wiley; Published: 2000-05-15; Paperback; Book
Best price: $0.75
Price in other shops:
How Movies Workby Bruce F. Kawin
Allyn & Bacon; Published: 1987-03-13; Hardcover; Book
The Sun Soap Quiz Book: 2,000 Questions on Your Favourite TV Soap Operasby Chris Bradshaw
HarperCollins UK; Published: 2008-05-06; Paperback; Book
Best price: $1.99
Price in other shops:
Make Your Own Adult Video: The Couple's Guide to Making Sensual Home Moviesby Petra Joy
Collins; Published: 2007-01-03; Paperback; Book
Blessings in Disguiseby Alec Guinness
Fontana; Published: 1986; Paperback; Book
Irish Dancing (Collins Pocket Reference)by Tom Quinn
Harpercollins Pub Ltd; Published: 1998-11; Paperback; Book
Best price: $534.56
Harmonyby Heinrich Schenker
University Of Chicago Press; Published: 1980-10-15; Paperback; Book
Best price: $24.90
Price in other shops:
A Practical Guide to Stage Lighting, Second Editionby Steven Louis Shelley
Focal Press; Published: 2009-10-05; Paperback; Book
Best price: $38.82
Price in other shops:
The Theater Experienceby Edwin Wilson
Mcgraw-Hill College; Published: 1994-01; Paperback; Book
Best price: $24.94
Price in other shops:
Bill Hicksby Kevin Booth
Harpercollins Entertainment; Published: 2005-03-21; Hardcover; Book
Best price: $40.00