Spring Arts Preview: He Hears America Sniping

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ONE TIP ON "A Delicate Balance": Don't call it Edward Albee's first Pulitzer Prize-winning play.

"It was my second," Albee corrected in a recent phone interview, citing "Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?" as his first. The jurors gave that play the prize, he said, but the board rejected it.

"I don't know; they thought the play was too good," Albee said, then amended: "I call it a half."

However one refers to it, the 1967 Pulitzer-winning "A Delicate Balance" takes the stage at Arena in Crystal City this month as part of Arena Restaged, a two-year festival featuring American playwrights.

And who better to showcase than Albee, whom many consider the greatest living American playwright? His cutting dialogue and keen understanding of human dynamics - on full display in "A Delicate Balance" - perhaps unsurprisingly come from his past, from "the fact that I was adopted and lived with some people and developed a great dislike of reactionary conservative Republicans," he said.

He doesn't write about politics specifically - "I'm not a journalist" - but he does hold strong opinions. "I always write about people not living up to their responsibilities," he said.

Despite the squabbling spouses Albee sometimes features, he claims positive views on relationships. "Most people live with somebody, and they should do it as long as it works."

But the playwright scoffed at the notion that people are more open with each other nowadays. "I think people are getting clever at self-delusion," he said. "I think most people use therapy as a social event."

Albee played a key role in choosing Arena's cast, collaborating with director Pam MacKinnon. The actors "bring to it the reason that I hired them: intelligence and talents," Albee said. "Between the two of us, we've put together an absolutely superb cast."

As for the future, the octogenarian is keeping busy. "I'm always working on a couple of plays, but I never talk about them. What if I'm wrong?" he said.

Albee's favorite plays? "Two that I'm working on now," he said. "Because I haven't made any mistakes."

» Arena Stage, 1800 S. Bell St., Arlington; through March 15, $47-$66; 202-488-3300; arenastage.org. (Crystal City)

Written by Express contributor Erin Trompeter
Photo courtesy of Scott Suchman