Overview
Synopsis
Steve Martin’s WASP is an absurdist take on 1950s suburbia and its White Anglo-Saxon Protestant values that seeped into popular culture. A nuclear family--Dad, Mom, Son, and Sis--gather together for dinner and banal conversation. But when each family member is alone, they truly come to life in a world of imagination, fantasy, and philosophy. They ponder love, desire, existence, and purpose. Individually, they rebel against the WASP norms that dictate their lives and behaviors, yet as a family unit, they continue to “live the lie” of middle-class American life. A true satirical work, WASP defies clear interpretation and challenges the audience to make meaning from its absurdist critique.
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Context
WASP had its New York premiere at the Joseph Papp Theatre in 1995, alongside Steve Martin’s other one-acts, Patter for the Floating Lady, Guillotine, and The ZIg-Zag Woman. Critics largely disliked the absurdist production, seeing it as self-indulgent and nonsensical. However, some reviewers did find Martin’s satiric exposé of 1950s middle America as clever; F. Kathleen Foley of the L.A. Times wrote of a 2002 production: “Deft and incongruous, the play yields plenty of laughter but has
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Scene 1: WASP
In a 1950s kitchen, a family is gathered around the dinner table as Dad says a prayer to “God in heaven, which is seventeen miles above the Earth.” The family eats, but Son’s curiosity gets the best of him--he learned that the moon is 250,000 miles away, so that means heaven is closer than the moon. More than that, if Adam and Eve only had two sons, where did all the other people on Earth come from? Mom bursts into tears while Dad assures Son that his science teacher will be
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Character Portrayals
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Monologues
Scenes
Key Terms
Absurdism is a 20th-century theatrical style that reflects the belief that life lacks inherent meaning. Playwrights such as Samuel Beckett and Eugène Ionesco used illogical dialogue, repetition, and surreal situations. The genre emphasizes the futility of human struggle and the breakdown of communication.
A short play presented in a single act without intermission, ideal for festivals, student productions, or concise storytelling.
Parody is a comedic imitation of a style, genre, or work that exaggerates its features for humorous or satirical effect. In theatre, it playfully mocks conventions, characters, or cultural icons while still relying on audience recognition of the original. Parody can both celebrate and critique its subject, often blurring the line between homage and ridicule.
A system of thought exploring existence, ethics, or knowledge, often influencing theatrical movements like existentialism or realism.
Satire is a dramatic style that uses humor, irony, and exaggeration to criticize human behavior, social institutions, or political systems. In theatre, it highlights flaws and hypocrisies through wit and parody, encouraging audiences to laugh while also reflecting on serious issues. Satire can range from lighthearted comedy to biting social commentary, making it both entertaining and thought-provoking.
A dramatic movement featuring illogical dialogue, cyclical plots, and existential themes, reflecting the absurdity of human existence.
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Guide Written By:
Cindi Calhoun
Theatre teacher, director, writer, and seamstress