A wonderful play - collection of plays, rather. The first one contains some of Simon's best writing, a look at a couple celebrating their wedding anniversary and the wife realises the husband is having an affair. I actually think Simon could've spun this out into a full length piece - act two she goes on a date, act three they reunite at a child's wedding. But what's left is terrific - it captures the ebb and flow of a 20-something marriage, a woman who forgets stuff but is still razor sharp. It's very well done.
Part two isn't as regarded but it still quite funny/touching - a producer has romanticised his past and tries to seduce his star struck ex. I love the pop culture of the time - references to Mia and Frank, Yvette Mimieux, Dean Jones, Troy Donahue. The central situation of this was actually strong enough for a longer piece too.
Part three is a comic gem - daughter locked herself in room on wedding day. Ed Asner is the dad (I listened to a radio version) - he doesn't have the strength that George C Scott would have. A lot of Simon I think benefits from casting a guy who would make a believable killer - Scott, Robert Redford - not a nebbish character. But great.
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