Play review & links to theatre

Discuss your impressions of the play. I understand this play can be challenging for many people that read it, but it is meant to be symbolic, it is not meant to be taken realistically or literally. In discussion; explore the following questions: What were first impressions of this play? *How does the playwright use the character names: *Dodge (To evade) *Halie (Dweller of the Meadow) *Tilden (to till soil) *Vince (to conquer) *Ansel (Devine Protector) What does the play say about the decay of the American Dream? What role does father Dewis play? What is Shepard saying about the role of the church in the American Family? Do you believe the playwright leaves us with hope at the end of the play? Why or why not? Lastly: Who is Ansel? Is he the Buried Child? Who are his parents? Did he really live the life Halie talks about? What is a position on these questions? (Use references to support position.)