Edward Albee’s final play to open on Broadway remains one of the most controversial: The Goat, or Who Is Sylvia? In this Deep Dive, Matt and guest Robert W. Schneider unpack its infamous premise and explore why a play so boldly bonkers can be so shockingly rewarding. The two also explore how Albee weaponizes language, social taboos, and why the play’s legacy is still undefined.

Robert W. Schneider—director, educator, author, and longtime theater historian—is the perfect sparring partner for this conversation. A deep lover of Albee’s work with firsthand experience teaching and contextualizing The Goat, Rob brings historical perspective, production insight, and a fearless willingness to argue the play’s moral, emotional, and theatrical implications.

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Timestamps

00:00 – Introduction

06:45 – Plot overview and the play’s infamous reveal

15:30 – Original Broadway production and cultural reaction in 2002

20:00 – Mercedes Ruehl’s performance and the physical toll of Stevie

38:30 – Tony Awards context and critical reception

52:00 – Revivals, casting fantasies, and what it would take to bring it back

1:15:00 – Legacy: is The Goat a masterpiece, a provocation, or both?

1:27:00 – Final thoughts on Albee, tragedy, and modern audiences

Key People:

Edward Albee (Playwright), Mercedes Ruehl, Bill Pullman, Sally Field, Bill Irwin, Lindsay Duncan, Sarah Paulson, Eddie Redmayne

Listener Discussion Questions:

 Does The Goat still shock modern audiences—or has the culture caught up to it?

 Is Albee’s language indulgent by design, or does it undermine the play’s momentum?

 What kind of casting would make a Broadway revival of The Goat viable today?

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