seedily In the 1980s, John’s magazine work was drying up, and he tried working on a number of novels and plays. Unstrung, from 1982, is a two-act romantic comedy set in World War III. A couple, Pete and Barbara, wake up hungover after a one-night stand. They discover that World War III has broken out, there’s no power, and the streets are full of rioters and looters. In the course of the play, they get to know one another, quarrel, make up, fight off intruders, and finally decide to stay together. One amusing note: near the end, Pete reveals something he thinks Barbara should know: he’s a great fan of Harvey Kurtzman.
Here’s the beginning.
I look forward to seeing more of this. Keel’s comedy chops were great!
Comment by William J. Grabowski — June 18, 2014 @ 2:14 am
I’ll post some more material soon about John’s unfinished plays and novels. They’re uneven, but always Keelian!
Comment by Doug — June 19, 2014 @ 11:26 am