Genre
Drama
Language
English
Setting and Context
Palm Springs, CA - Christmas Eve 2004 and March 2010
Narrator and Point of View
POV is that of Brooke before transitioning to Lyman and Polly's POV
Tone and Mood
Comedic, Serious, Dramatic
Protagonist and Antagonist
Protagonists and Antagonists are Brooke, Polly and Lyman
Major Conflict
Brooke has written a memoir about her brother, Henry's suicide after he was implicated in a fire bombing and has named her father and mother as the cause of his rebellion. She has brought a manuscript of her book for her family to read at Christmas.
Climax
Lyman and Polly reveal that they staged Henry's suicide and helped him to escape the country and kept it a secret for decades, even from their children in order that Henry would be able to have a life.
Foreshadowing
Polly saying that she only has 2 children instead of 3 foreshadows the width of separation and pain between her and her daughter, who was best friends with her brother, Henry.
Understatement
It is understated as to the fact that Henry is actually alive and Lyman and Polly helped him to escape.
Allusions
The play is an allusion to the depth of complexity about human beings, family life and the strain of a secret on the relationships between Father, Mother and child--even when that secret is there to protect everyone.
Imagery
Henry and his parents on the ferry crafting his suicide note.
Brooke in the hospital with her mother feeding her.
Silda in her Laurel Canyon home not going to help Henry.
Paradox
Lyman and Polly are law abiding members of the GOP, but they paradoxically whipped Nancy and her friends into shape after their son was implicated in a fire bombing. They put their family before their party loyalty.
Parallelism
Brooke's near suicide parallels her brother's death, which she believed to be real until the end of the play.
Personification
Silda becomes the personification of a hypocrite.
Use of Dramatic Devices
Brooke's book reading in the final scene using the audience as her point of focus.
