The Cocktail Hour Author:A. R. Gurney John, a not completely successful playwright, returns to his family's home, with a new play he has written about them. His visit takes place during the "sacred Cocktail Hour" where he seeks his parents' permission to proceed with the play he wrote about the family. In it, he will make some revelation about ... more »the family that includes something very personal he intends to clarify. The members of his wealthy, enormously uptight WASP family are cautious, unwilling to grant that permission.
Bradley, the father, is adamant that he doesn't want this play published. Ann, the mother, believes that maybe the family information would be better suited for a book, because it is less personal than a play. And his sister Nina, is upset because enough is not written about her.
With unfailing warmth and humor, these characters are exceedingly stereotypical, yet through the sharp dialogue by playwright Gurney they also become very recognizable.« less