1. "Eugene O'Neill's in-joke?"
Posted by Bob Gutowski on Mar-12th-03 at 12:27 AM

I just watched the bad but fascinating film version of O'Neill's retelling of the Agamemnon/Clytemnestra myth, MOURNING BECOMES ELECTRA.  It's set in New England, just at the end of the Civil War.  Now, in the original, Clytie arranges for her lover to murder her returned husband, Aga, with a double edged axe.  The wife, though, is so associated with this murder that (as you may recall) Victoria Lincoln opens her book with a comparison of Clytemnestra and Lizzie.  Well, guess what?  Amongst the characters in the play (I researched it this evening) are a "Josiah Borden, and his wife, Emma."  That's right; a play based on a famous axe murder features a character named EMMA BORDEN.  I guess the New Englander O'Neill, who was surely aware of the Fall River mystery, thought "Lizzie" would be too obvious, or might be taken as a cheap joke.  I know I nearly fell out of the recliner when the couple showed up in the film, and I couldn't wait to check the original play script and share this with you!   

(Message last edited Mar-12th-03  12:30 AM.)

That's wild, Bob.  It's so cool to connect with a writer in little ways like that, especially across time!

That is an AMAZING find, Bob! You must write Maynard Bertolet at the LBQ and tell him. I think this deserves publication! So cool!

Very cool find, Bob G.!  Now I'd like to see it, good or bad. 

I'm so tickled you found this as striking as I did!  I took your advice, and sent a more polished version of the post to Maynard Bertolet just now.

Oh, and, by the way, while this film version is not available on home video, there is a DVD of a PBS production of what I believe to be nearly the entire 5-6 hour play now available in stores.  Of course, the play is readily available in any good large bookstore with a drama section (duh!).

ADDENDUM!  I heard back from Maynard Bertolet, who intends to publish the info as a letter to the editor, so thanks, Stef, for suggesting I contact him!

And, get this: the fellow who shows up a few days a month to sell used books had his table set up outside the supermarket today.  There was a collection of Alexander Woolcott essays, including a review of the original production of... MOURNING BECOMES ELECTRA!.  Now, you may recall that this writer, who was a member of the famous Algonquin round table of wits, was especially enamored of the Borden case (the lead character in THE MAN WHO CAME TO DINNER is a parody of Woolcott, and a Lizzie-like character named "Harriet Sedley" is part of the comedy).  So, I scoured the review for a mention of the Borden characters, but Woolcott, of all people, missed them!

Then, as I put down the book, I glanced over and saw a copy of another of O'Neill's plays, there on the table - it wasn't MOURNING, but this was already enough synchronicity for one day, wouldn't you say?  

(Message last edited Mar-12th-03  7:28 PM.)

That is so cool when that stuff happens!

It happens to me a lot, but not so literally or literarily!

Doesn't it feel like for one minute the universe is talking just to you?