Overview

Blossoming wallflowers, the terrors of senility, the isolation of intellect and fear of failure are themes of this play about a journalist who, dispirited at the lack of passion in her life, returns home to Oxford, Mississippi, where her sister and ailing mother have an irritating neighbor: Bill Faulkner. While mother plays Chopin, plans a lavish garden, and dresses for a final tea party with the illustrious writer she has known since childhood, he rides his bicycle drunkenly about town at night and throws apples at strangers. He doesn't write anymore, but he does bestow life infusing gifts in this lyrical play by the author of Dream of a Common Language.