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Best known for his 1962 play Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?, Edward Albee is an acknowledged master of the guilty secret. In his first one-acter, Zoo Story, a shabby young man admits he learned how to live by being cruel to a dog. This latest play from Albee, now in his mid 70s, is a zoo story of a very different kind. No cruelty, as such. Well, only to audiences, not animals. If you're at all squeamish, or don't want the plot spoiled, skip the next paragraph.
The happily married Martin (Philip Quast) has fallen in love with - and begun a sexual relationship with - a goat. It's coincidence, of course, that his son is named Billy, because this is not a comedy. Well, it's not played as a comedy. The opening scene is a superbly rendered slice of midlife marriage in which Martin and his wife Stevie (Wendy Hughes) are utterly familiar to one another. Still loving and gentle. But there are clouds gathering. It seems the fabulously successful architect is losing his wits. Perhaps to Alzheimer's disease.
The big revelation comes at the end of the first scene, when Martin 'fesses up' to his best friend, Ross (Peter Curtin). The rest of the play is one hysterical confrontation after another. While all those around him - perhaps understandably - lose connection with the truth of their roles, Philip Quast manages to play perfectly straight. He is torn between two lovers. It is a mighty performance.
Just as Albee's play systematically smashes conventionsof morality, director Kate Cherry neatly draws the connection between our most precious relationships and pottery bowls. Once shattered, they can never be restored. The one truly disturbing thing about this sicko play (don't say I didn't warn you that The Goat makes Bad Boy Bubby look tasteful!) is that none of Albee's characters considers that Martin might have lost the plot. Which makes us question the playwright's motives. Albee makes deft swipes at male hypocrisy - anything goes as long as you're not caught - but he is playing with us. He is experimenting on us.
© Herald and Weekly Times
