Drunk Enough to Say I Love You?

Drunk Enough to Say I Love You? is a 2006 political play with eight scenes by Caryl Churchill. It addresses the application of power by the United States mostly since the Vietnam war.

Plot summary

Two men, Sam ("a country") and Jack/Guy ("a man"), are homosexual lovers. Their interaction is an elliptical, often fragmented political dialog. Sam is the aggressive one and Jack/Guy initially his enthusiastic follower, who, however, in the process of the play becomes more and more disenchanted. Sam is clearly identified as the American government that touts American hegemony and foreign intervention, and Jack is his lover, who becomes a disillusioned follower by the end.

Reception

The play is brief (45 min) and without an intermission. It was first produced at the Royal Court Theatre in London with the world premiere on 10 November 2006. Sam's counterpart was initially named Jack emphasizing the British nature of the person, while in the 2008 American production he becomes Guy, a possible Mr. Anybody. The American version, therefore, also may be a "mirror" as it addresses the relationship between the government and its supportive voters.^[1] The play received a generally positive reception on both sides of the Atlantic. The Guardian's Michael Billington suggested that the two characters reflect the Bush-Blair political relationship and noted that "the sexuality of politics" takes centerstage.^[2] Benedict Nightingale of The Times criticized the one-sightedness of the playwright's perspective, but recognised an underlying anxiety and anger.^[3] Ben Brantley of the New York Times admired Churchill's "canny exploration of the theatrical language."^[4] In both productions the two actors sit on a sofa in front of a black background. In the course of the play the sofa becomes more and more levitated, possibly reflecting the notion that the two men are becoming more estranged and losing their footing in reality.

In the English premiere Stephen Dillane played Jack and Ty Burrell was Sam. The American premiere in March 2008 featured Samuel West (Guy) and Scott Cohen (Sam) at The Public Theater in Manhattan. Both productions were directed by James Macdonald.

References

1. Les Gutman Drunk Enough To Say I Love You? Yes, But Not Too Drunk To Cross The Pond , Curtainup accessed 04-06-2008
2. Michael Billington, Drunk Enough To Say I Love You, in The Guardian, 11-23-2006 accessed 04-07-2008
3. Benedict Nightingale. Drunk Enough To Say I Love You? , Timesonline from 11-23-2006 accessed 04-06-2008
4. Ben Brantley. They Don't Call It a Special Relationship for Nothing, in The New York Times, 03-17-2008 accessed 04-07-2008