John Guare, born in 1938, is of the generation of American playwrights that critics persist in calling "promising" and comparing with Edward Albee. After winning an Obie in the 1967-1968 season for Muzeeka and being named the next season's "most promising playwright" in Variety's poll of New York drama critics for Cop-Out, Guare went on to produce his two most successful works to date in the course of a single year. The House of Blue Leaves won both an Obie and the New York Drama Critics Circle Award for the Best American Play, 1970-1971. Two Gentlemen of Verona was awarded the Tony and the New York Drama Critics Circle awards for best musical of 1971-1972, the Tony for best book of a musical, the Drama Desk Award and the Variety poll award for best lyricist. Critics praised The House of Blue Leaves for its savage, penetrating farce (a style...