Act 1 Summary

Burn This opens on a mid-October evening in a converted factory-loft in lower Manhattan. In the loft, Anna, a dancer, sits on the couch alone. The buzzer sounds repeatedly until Anna goes to the door. Burton, a writer, enters having just heard the news that Anna's dance partner and roommate Robbie and his lover Dominic were killed in a boating accident.

Anna has just returned from the wake at the home of Robbie's parents in Houston. She is visibly upset about the family's lack of knowledge about Robbie's homosexuality. Burton has just returned from a trip in Canada.

Anna's other roommate Larry arrives with groceries wondering why he has not been able to reach Anna all day. She has been alone with the phone turned off and has turned to vodka for solace.

Anna tells Burton about Robbie's family. Out of the entire...