Aunt Dan and Lemon

by Wallace Shawn

A thrilling friend of her parents casts a spell over a young girl. A study in the glamour of brutal ideas.Susie, he's not just an individual like you and me - he works for the government. It's as if you were saying that you and I are so nice every day and why can't our governments be just like us! But you know the whole thing, Susie - you and I are only able to be nice because our governments - our governments are not nice! - so that if you see me putting this spoon in my purse, you don't have to wrestle me to get the spoon back, you can just pick up the phone and call the police. And if there are people attacking our friends in Southeast Asia, you and I don't have to go over there and fight them with rifles - we just get Kissinger to fight them for us.Aunt Dan and Lemon was first produced by the Royal Court Theatre, London, and the New York Shakespeare Festival and received its world premiere at the Royal Court Theatre in August 1985. The play was revived at the Royal Court Theatre in May 2009.

Genres: Plays, Theatre, Drama, Fiction, School

Paperback

First published January 1, 1985

About the author

Wallace Shawn, sometimes credited as Wally Shawn, is an American actor and playwright. Regularly seen on film and television, where he is usually cast as a comic character actor, he has pursued a parallel career as a playwright whose work is often dark, politically charged and controversial. He is widely known for his high-pitched nasal voice and slight lisp.

Reviews

[Eric · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely love this play. Wallace Shawn throws some pretty heavy duty moral philosophy at the audience through the recollections of a sweet, reclusive 20-something: nazi apologetics, sexual deviancy, voyeurism, Kissinger. I mean, what's not to love. One thing that I find missing in Shawn's philosophical musings though is the avoidance (intentional or not) of the fact that morality seems to evolve with every generation. Perhaps he finds that too optimistic. Some days I feel the same way.

[Taylor Hudson · Rating 3 out of 5]

A surprising and confounding philosophical journey - Lemon becomes infatuated with the her Aunt Dan - a friend of her parents growing up - an ardent Kissinger supporter with wild tales of exciting sexual encounters, and strong opinions about the morality or lack of morality that is inherent in society. Throughout the play we see the influence of Aunt Dan on Lemon but it isn't quite revealed until the jarring final monologue that Lemon is Nazi apologist - they were doing what they had to do in order to sustain their way of life - America does the same, families do the same, people do the same. So why are Nazis so bad?

The aim of this script seems be to shine a light of the inherent evil (or desire to sustain) of people - which indeed makes for some uncomfortable self analysis. The structure of the play leaves something to be desired - small and sometimes meaningless scenes interrupted by extremely long monologues that while well written, don't seem entirely necessary or even on topic.

[Gregory Knapp · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the best, and most enjoyable, plays I have ever read.

I also had the good fortune to see a fantastic production at the Mark Taper Forum in LA in 1987 with Elizabeth McGovern (YOU know her from Downtown Abby) as Lemon.

It was one of the most mesmerizing nights at the theatre I have had.

[Scott · Rating 5 out of 5]

My favorite Wallace Shawn play. And certainly among my all-time top ten. If you haven't yet read it, run don't walk.

[Molly McGrath · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wallace Shawn expertly calls out the audience on our moral backsliding. I’ve been in these conversations and heard these words as intrusive thoughts. It’s a comfort to know these mental gymnastics are not new even if exaggerated to comic effect (the protagonist imagines herself as a dutiful sex slave to Henry Kissinger because his judgment is oh so very sound) in this play. Hope to see a performance one day!

[Neil · Rating 3 out of 5]

We've all enjoyed Wallace Shawn in "The Princess Bride" and "My Dinner with Andre", but reading this play, I honestly wasn't certain he didn't believe some pretty fucked up things. There were a few pessimistic-but-good monologues about love and biases in the middle of the play, but a deluded character dominating the last few pages with their monologue was disturbing. Thankfully, the "On the context of the play" essay at the end clarified that he was not endorsing the titular characters' rationalization of violence in the third world for the benefit of the first, and his depiction of the slippery slope of morality back in 1985 is more relevant now than ever, as more than half of our country unfortunately seems to harbor hate for others. I recommend the essay more than the play.

[Neil · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's a piece with a twist as deep as this that makes one understand why the playwright Wallace Shawn gets cast as an actor in parts like Vizzini in The Princess Bride.

This is a dark play about the power of influence. The now grownup Lemon recounts some summer nights when she was eleven years old and her parents' friend Aunt Dan came to her bedside and told her stories about things (politics, sex, murder) that really weren't appropriate for young ears.

You'd need actresses with chops for this one. Linda Hunt played Aunt Dan originally. As a reference point for my friends, if I were casting I'd go with my dear Sharon as Aunt Dan, perhaps our friend Tori for Lemon, both actors with some power, some capacity to surprise, and the ability to tap a bit of darkness (not to mention some real memory power: these are some of the longest speeches I've seen in theater). It's not until her final monologue that one realizes what a twisted kitty Lemon has become.

Some of the cultural reference points are getting a bit dated (Kissinger is the big political baddy, and there are some real swinging 70s sexual moments), but this is a piece of real power, a warning shot over the ramparts, a reminder that we have seen the enemy and he is us.

[Jack Cheng]

Lemon (Leonora) a somewhat crippled person explains how she was influenced by her Aunt Dan (Daniella), an ardent Kissinger supporter.

The play is concerned with morality and the lack of it, and Shawn has written an afterword that discusses how self-satisfied his acquaintances have become (in 1985) and that by purging themselves of the guilt of success (or luck) they have become more confident and happy. In other words, his story anticipates, or reports on the cusp of the objectivist neo-conservative movement.

That said, it's an amusing tale that is funny, sexy and scary in turns.

[Scott J · Rating 4 out of 5]

Shawn’s conversational yet introspective curiosity is in full force here. I particularly
enjoyed his preface, and his afterword “on the context of the play” in which he dissects morality with that idiosyncratic self-examination of his. “What would you do? Have you thought it through, or did you get distracted and miss where the argument went wrong?” 🤔

(Shawn’s preface & afterword gently reminds, though in a modest way, of George Bernard Shaw’s quite elaborate play prefaces and afterwords.)

[Erin · Rating 2 out of 5]

Many don't know this, but this is the same Wallace Shawn who played Vizzini in the movie version of Princess Bride. He has written several plays, but this is the only one I have tried to read. I never actually finished it. I found it pretty boring at the time. Maybe I'll go back and look over it, though.

[Mark Schnell · Rating 3 out of 5]

The play illuminates two of the most-used defenses or rationalizations of political evil: (1) "Fascists are not evil. They are just being honest." (2) "In this world, somebody's got to do the dirty work."

The latter is Jesseps self-defense in A Few Good Men.

In Hell's restaurant, the waitress can be heard asking, "Who ordered the Code Red?"

[Hesper · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's been a long time since I encountered this, but I remember liking its stark presentation of amorality, selfishness and intellectual development.

Not an easy play to digest, it will probably appeal more if seen than read.

[Marc · Rating 1 out of 5]

Not sure I got the purpose of this play. It was interesting at first (Lemon is main reason for this), then confusing/boring with the subplots and stories re: Kissinger, Nazis, Aunt Dan's friends, etc. Writing style was repetitive...

[Jeff · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm currently directing it and believe it speaks to the current moment far more cogently than, perhaps, it did in 1985. It's a tricky one; anybody out there ever worked on it?

[Nick · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting philosophy. Talky drama. Nice philosophical essay as an afterward.

[Hank Lin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Am I too oblivious to know what the political implications of loving Henry Kissinger are?

[Stewart · Rating 4 out of 5]

A brilliant, unnerving, funny and creepy play about the perversion of a young, impressionable mind. A haunting political morality play that nags at one long after the curtain falls.

[Daniel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Political commentary—frightening (but interesting). Speechifying, monologue style is trying.

[Laura · Rating 2 out of 5]

... what?

[Ryan · Rating 3 out of 5]

What I can say about this play is that I could learn a lot from a second read. There’s a heavy emphasis on the politics of the people in this play, and I don’t know enough about history to have picked up on the themes they explored politically. I think this play is heavy and explores a lot of complex emotions about human comfort, sympathy, and a child’s perspective on the adults in her life. I want to read this again and this play makes me want to learn more about it, which I think is a testament to the writing and themes, especially given the fact that I only picked it up again today after starting it almost a week ago.

[Jason · Rating 5 out of 5]

I performed in a production of Aunt Dan and Lemon when I was in college. I found the script in my office and decided to read it again...30+ years after I performed in it. I can honestly say that I still haven't a clue what the play is about, YET, I absolutely love this piece. There is a LOT to process and unpack in this monologue heavy piece which I love-it is incredibly thought provoking! Is til don't know how all comes together or the point of it, but it is a fascinating read none the less!

[Mitchel · Rating 4 out of 5]

A spiky masterpiece about the seemingly innocuous ways that ideology takes hold in our lives. The text doesn't reach the heights of Shawn's masterpiece "The Designated Mourner," but it comes very close.

[kev]

Inconceivable.

[mel thompson · Rating 2 out of 5]

the more i think about this play the more i hate it

[Sue Davis · Rating 4 out of 5]

We can justify killing so long as it protects our way of life?

[Janine Corman · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a great read, but I am not sure how it would play on stage. All of the character, but particularly Lemon, gave me the heebie jeebies. Aunt Dan should not be allowed around children.

[John Fitzgerald · Rating 2 out of 5]

meh