The first half of this hour-long one-act (remember those?) feels downright Capraesque with its idealistic albeit naive hero, his cynical yet pragmatic advisor, and the sharp-witted woman who keeps them grounded while cracking wise. Midway through, right where it should, the play takes a dark turn that's as much Capra as it is Miller. The zing is replaced by a haunting negotiation between opportunity and ethics. But this isn't Capra or Miller, it's O'Day and he puts a glorifying spin on a dizzyingly complex debate. Funny, gripping, and deeply satisfying, this is a post-war play that's...
The first half of this hour-long one-act (remember those?) feels downright Capraesque with its idealistic albeit naive hero, his cynical yet pragmatic advisor, and the sharp-witted woman who keeps them grounded while cracking wise. Midway through, right where it should, the play takes a dark turn that's as much Capra as it is Miller. The zing is replaced by a haunting negotiation between opportunity and ethics. But this isn't Capra or Miller, it's O'Day and he puts a glorifying spin on a dizzyingly complex debate. Funny, gripping, and deeply satisfying, this is a post-war play that's profoundly timeless.