Edward Albee told the The Economist that this play, "was a kind of exorcism" for him. The play begins with three women who seem to have no familial relationship to each other. One of them, A reminisces about her life as a younger woman, some memories she enjoys and most that brings her to weeping. The three women are revealed to be the same woman at different ages in her life.
What would happen if you knew what you were to become? Would you change, could you? Would the wealth be enough to stay? Could you find the strength to leave? Albee brings up all of these questions and more and in the end leaves little room for the opportunity for change. Albee becomes the son who comes back after 20 years away, the playwright left home at 18. And, the play, being an exorcism for him allowed the opportunity to dredge up the memories of a life in order to discover what was good. Unfortunately, Albee's opinion of the woman didn't change.
There are times when memories provide a wonderful beauty and flavor to our lives as we near death. This play is not that. It is the sting of the choices we make, and don't make. It is the taste of our stubborn nature and the clarity that many times we are the person that we are unable to stand being with.
