description Ah, Wilderness! Overview
Ah, Wilderness! is a comedy by American playwright Eugene O'Neill, first produced in 1933. Set in a small Connecticut town on the Fourth of July in 1906, it follows teenage Richard Miller as romantic disappointment, political reading, and a night of drinking unsettle his affectionate middle-class family. The play presents an idealized and nostalgic domestic world and is notable as O'Neill's only completed comedy, contrasting with the tragic family dramas for which he is better known.
help Ah, Wilderness! FAQ
Who wrote the play Ah, Wilderness!?
Ah, Wilderness! is a comedy written by the renowned American playwright Eugene O'Neill. It was first produced on Broadway in 1933 and stands out among his body of work.
What is Ah, Wilderness! about?
Set on the Fourth of July in 1906, the play follows teenage Richard Miller as he navigates romantic disappointment and a rebellious night of drinking. It serves as a nostalgic, affectionate look at small-town family life in a Connecticut town.
Is Ah, Wilderness! a typical Eugene O'Neill play?
No, it stands in stark contrast to O'Neill's usual tragic works like Long Day's Journey Into Night. Instead of dark family drama, it is a lighthearted comedy that reflects an idealized version of early 20th-century American adolescence.
Was Ah, Wilderness! ever adapted into a musical?
Yes, the play was adapted into the 1958 Broadway musical Take Me Along, which starred Jackie Gleason. The musical retained the turn-of-the-century setting and the core Miller family dynamics from O'Neill's original script.
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