One of the better later Williamsons - it has a very strong idea absolutely suited to its author: a university professor is determined to find the meaning of happiness and proposes various methods to do it. The main plot is executed by his daughter who tries to make amends/deal with her mother and the various men in her life.
Again, Williamson flounders outside his generation and sex... the daughter is a science reporter at News Limited and the men in her life are archetypes. Her mother is a cold shrew - a variation of types we've seen in her play before - and when the husband/professor was constantly described as an amiable nice guy I did have some enjoyable wondering of how much this was based on David and Kirsten.
Actually when I poke at this it starts to wobble -Williamson over relies on infidelity as a plot device (in this one the wife wants to shag some alpha) - but the themes are really interesting and there's some provoking ideas about happiness and marriage and family and love. I wish Williamson had centered the play around the professor and his brothers/male friends, and been about their attempts to find happiness - I feel he would have done a better job.
But good on him for trying to expand his view and the play does give you something to ponder. Jeez, the kids in his world all take their parents infidelity in stride.
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