Romance Language

The author of Sorrows of Stephen turns a modern eye on the romance of American nineteenth century literature in this surreal comedy. The play begins with Huck Finn climbing through Walt Whitman's bedroom window. Since Whitman's male lover has just died, he decides to go on a picaresque journey with Huck down the river of American culture. They encounter Custer, Thoreau, Emerson, Louisa May Alcott, Charlotte Cushman and Emily Dickinson. The craziness reaches a climax at the Battle of the Little Big Horn where everyone is killed and goes to literary heaven.

Romance Language premiered at Playwrights Horizons in New York City in November 1984 under the direction of Sheldon Larry.