Cocktails with George and Martha

Movies, Marriage, and the Making of Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?

By: Philip Gefter

Narrated by: Alexa Morden

Length: 11 hrs and 29 mins

Publisher's summary

An award-winning writer reveals the behind-the-scenes story of the provocative play, the groundbreaking film it became, and how two iconic stars changed the image of marriage forever.

From its debut in 1962, Edward Albee’s Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? was a wild success and a cultural lightning rod. The play transpires over one long, boozy night, laying bare the lies, compromises, and scalding love that have sustained a middle-aged couple through decades of marriage. It scandalized critics but magnetized audiences. Across 644 sold-out Broadway performances, the drama demolished the wall between what could and couldn’t be said on the American stage and marked a definitive end to the I Love Lucy 1950s.

Then, Hollywood took a colossal gamble on Albee’s sophisticated play—and won. Costarring Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton, the sensational 1966 film minted first-time director Mike Nichols as industry royalty and won five Oscars. How this scorching play became a movie classic—surviving censorship attempts, its creators’ inexperience, and its stars’ own tumultuous marriage—is one of the most riveting stories in all of cinema.

Now, acclaimed author Philip Gefter tells that story in full for the first time, tracing Woolf from its hushed origins in Greenwich Village’s bohemian enclave, through its tormented production process, to its explosion onto screens across America and a permanent place in the canon of cinematic marriages. This deliciously entertaining book explores how two couples—one fictional, one all too real—forced a nation to confront its most deeply held myths about relationships, sex, family, and, against all odds, love.

©2024 Philip Gefter (P)2024 Bloomsbury Publishing Plc

not that insightful

Most of the material in this book is available elsewhere. If you've read the Albee bios there isn't much in here to add to that. There's a lot of filler at the end as well.

Another Bad Narration

Mispronunciation of numerous names and words. Does no one listen to and edit these narrations? For me, more books are ruined by the narration than by the content.

Well researched, well written, well read, but...

...so many errors, both in the writing and in the reading. For example, THE LION IN WINTER was not written by William Goldman but by his brother James Goldman. Lots of bad pronunciation - who is James Aggie? And so on...Does anyone ever "proof read" audio books???

Well-researched, scholarly, entertaining

Deep background on the playwright, the director, the producer, the performers, the machinations of Hollywood and moviemaking and especially the iconic impact of a remarkable play and movie. Some annoying mispronunciations of words but did not detract too much from my enjoyment.

Excellent book, irritating reader

Loved the rich details and history. The reader’s odd pronunciation and stresses detracted, but only slightly.

Absorbing, detailed, well written

The reader mispronounces so many words, it’s exasperating, but she nevertheless gives an excellent performance. No sing song here, she’s really good, has lively energy and makes it interesting.

A Rollicking Good Tale

Couldn’t stop listening to this well researched, astutely observed and wonderfully well written work. Not only does it take a deep dive into the Hollywood sausage factory at a pivotal time in the culture, but it captures the culture—the one we used to share before today’s Balkanization, as Gefter notes, and a circle of gods we all used to admire and or concern ourselves with. It is ancient history brought beautifully to life. I’m left with the image of Richard Burton driving Elizabeth Taylor in the Rolls Royce she bought for Eddie Fisher that always brings a smile.

If you are thinking of — or involved in — marriage, read this

As to the level of detail, think of Farley Mowatt analyzing wolf scats in the Keewatin pine barrens. It’s a meticulous look, but evocative, true to the craft of amorous relationships (and their exposition), and highly entertaining.

Fabulous book - narration

This is a terrific book. The mispronounced words were a distraction. Also less than ideal was the narrator’s occasional use of a tone suggesting she was trying to sell a particular point of view.

Writer had a point of view and carried it out.

Often, these readers mispronounce the simplest words and get titles wrong.
“The Lion in Winter” is “the lion in the winter”,,.
But that is minor. I appreciate not being fed precis of, to me, famous people, the way some recent non-fiction does.
The gossip is terrif, (straight from the producer) and the writing is clear and erudite without striving.
This writer loved the subject and she or he has done the reader a great service.