Home / Quotes / Quote by Edward Albee

Quote by Edward Albee

“If you examine the history of any playwright of the past twenty - five or thirty years - I'm not talking about the comedy boys, I'm talking about the more serious writers - it seems inevitable that almost every one has been encouraged until the critics feel that they have built them up beyond the point where they can control them; then it's time to knock them down again.”

Book:Conversations with Edward Albee

Work

Conversations with Edward Albee

This book features in-depth conversations with Edward Albee, delving into his thoughts on theater, writing, and life. The discussions provide insights into Albee's creative process and the evolution of his work. more

Author

Edward Albee

American playwright, known for his unique dramatic style and profound exploration of modern family relationships. Edward Albee's works often involve complex interpersonal relationships and moral dilemmas, and his plays hold a significant place in 20th-century American theater. more

“A rather ugly thing starts happening: the playwright finds himself knocked down for works that quite often are just as good or better than the works he's been praised for previously. And a lot of playwrights become confused by this and they start doing imitations of what they've done before, or they try to do something entirely different, in which case they get accused by the same critics of not doing what they used to do so well.”

Trying Wells Different Done Used Cases Happenings Critics Ugly Confused Imitation Accused Playwright Knocked Down Ugly Things

Book:Conversations with Edward Albee

Source: Conversations with Edward Albee

“The final evaluation of a play has nothing to do with immediate audience or critical response.”

Play Audience Response Finals Critical Evaluation

Book:Conversations with Edward Albee

Source: Conversations with Edward Albee

“The playwright, along with any writer, composer, painter in this society, has got to have a terribly private view of his own value, of his own work. He's got to listen to his own voice primarily. He's got to watch out for fads, for what might be called the critical aesthetics.”

Might Values Voice Views Watches Critical Painter Composer Aesthetics Playwright This Society Fads

Book:Conversations with Edward Albee

Source: Conversations with Edward Albee