The Dining Room is A.R. Gurney’s attempt to take an in-depth look into the lives of a vanishing species: the upper-middle-class WASP. The play can be done with as few as six actors playing as many as ten different characters. The play is broken up into short vignettes that provide a slice of life view of many different families. They are funny and touching and uncomfortable--A.R. Gurney seems to grapple with every emotion of domestic life. The Dining Room is a wonderful show to produce in a variety of venues because it has the ability to be incredibly diverse. There are many different ages in the vignettes and the people can look and act in many different ways. It is a truly delightful, fast-paced show that has something for everyone. No matter who you are, you will feel great about yourself, question your choices, feel empathy for others, and have a good laugh at some point while watching The Dining Room.
The Dining Room guide sections
