Mallory Carty
TJ Preston
Kallie Jung
Kathleen Duke

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Summer of 1920’s in Cookham, England. A
June afternoon to morning. In the Bliss’ house, the play is set mostly in their hall .

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Family of four: David, Judith, Sorel, Simon
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Each member invites a friend for the weekend
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David- Jackie
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Judith- Sandy
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Sorel- Richard
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Simon- Myra

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Family tries to act civilized for their guests
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As the day unfolds, each guest looks to another family member for comfort.
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The family soon shows their dysfunction, which ends up scaring away their guests.
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Guests soon plot their escape only one day into the weekend.

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When the family member’s found out they each invited a guest without telling anyone
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Immediately works up friction among the family
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Tension doesn’t reside even when guests arrive

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The family and guests play a parlor game (a form of charades)
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Craziness of the family starts to really show

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Family issues- you can assume that this particular family has a complex, twisted past that interferes with their relationship today, stemming from their differing personalities.
Relationship issues/adultery- as the guests find solace in a different family member that invited them, relationships are torn apart and marriages are ruined
Line between sanity/insanity- we see how the family as a whole covers up their insane attitude from their guests for only a short time, and that when revealed, the guests aren’t remotely attracted to them.

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Communication is key
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The family only falls into chaos because of their miscommunication. The guests don’t understand the family or anything they say, which is the downfall of the weekend.

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Judith (mother)- retired actress in her late
40’s, she wants to start theater back up.
Melodramatic and one for theatrics, she isn’t concerned with solving the problems in an argument.
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Simon (son)- early 20’s, unemployed, and a control freak, Simon takes after his mother; he’s passive aggressive and rather selfish

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Sorel (daughter)- early 20’s, Sorel is more of a daddy’s girl. She has anger issues, as she’s always bickering with Simon, but cares for her guests and wants the best for the family.

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Not one person, like in most plays
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Whole family is the protagonist, since the play focuses primarily on the family as a whole
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The family itself is innocent in the play, and the problem doesn’t stem from their insanity; their insanity simply magnifies the problem.

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Not one person, like the protagonist.
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Guests as a whole are the antagonists. They create the tension that ultimately fuels the arguments the family has.

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Judith monologue page 15
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Scene between 4 guests page 57
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Simon monologue page 21
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Scene between 4 family members page 60
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Scene between Myra/ David page 44
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Sorel monologue page 27

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Winsomely: an engaging manner (mentioned during game)
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Saucily: an impudent or impertinent manner(mentioned during game)
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Diplomatist: an official engaged in international negotiations (Richard’s occupation)
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Dieppe: French city (they visited there, shows they’re upper class)
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Slapdash: careless/reckless manner
(describes family

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Bohemian: unconventional, especially in appearance or behavior (Richard describes the family as such)
Blasé: nonchalantly unconcerned (Sorel describes Simon as this)
Magnanimously: generous and understanding
(Judith sarcastically described as this)
Abject: showing humiliation/ submissiveness
(Jackie described as this)
Affectation: a deliberate pretense or exaggerated display (Myra’s relationship with
David

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Place de Concorde: a road
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Rue St. Honore: a road
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Charlie Templeton: Canadian cartoonist
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Maiden Head: City in the UK

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Kallie and Kathleen liked fast paced speed of the show, TJ and Mallory didn’t.
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Liked how each family member was their own type of crazy
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Liked the ending and how it shows the utter insanity of the family
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Got kind of confusing at times
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Would recommend to a friend because it was very funny, witty, and an overall good read.