<description>&lt;p&gt;Edward Albee’s final play to open on Broadway remains one of the most controversial: &lt;em&gt;The Goat, or Who Is Sylvia?&lt;/em&gt; In this Deep Dive, Matt and guest Robert W. Schneider unpack its infamous premise and explore why a play so boldly bonkers can be so shockingly rewarding. The two also explore how Albee weaponizes language, social taboos, and why the play’s legacy is still undefined.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Robert W. Schneider—director, educator, author, and longtime theater historian—is the perfect sparring partner for this conversation. A deep lover of Albee’s work with firsthand experience teaching and contextualizing &lt;em&gt;The Goat&lt;/em&gt;, Rob brings historical perspective, production insight, and a fearless willingness to argue the play’s moral, emotional, and theatrical implications.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Broadway Breakdown Links&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Broadway Breakdown:  &lt;a target="_blank" href="https://discord.gg/AgjWNpzF"&gt;Discord Channel&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Broadway Breakdown: &lt;a target="_blank" href="https://bwaybreakdown.substack.com/?utm_campaign=profile_chips"&gt;Substack&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Timestamps&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt; 00:00 – Introduction&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt; 06:45 – Plot overview and the play’s infamous reveal&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt; 15:30 – Original Broadway production and cultural reaction in 2002&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt; 20:00 – Mercedes Ruehl’s performance and the physical toll of Stevie&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt; 38:30 – Tony Awards context and critical reception&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt; 52:00 – Revivals, casting fantasies, and what it would take to bring it back&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt; 1:15:00 – Legacy: is &lt;em&gt;The Goat&lt;/em&gt; a masterpiece, a provocation, or both?&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt; 1:27:00 – Final thoughts on Albee, tragedy, and modern audiences&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Key People:&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Edward Albee (Playwright), Mercedes Ruehl, Bill Pullman, Sally Field, Bill Irwin, Lindsay Duncan, Sarah Paulson, Eddie Redmayne&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Listener Discussion Questions:&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt; Does &lt;em&gt;The Goat&lt;/em&gt; still shock modern audiences—or has the culture caught up to it?&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt; Is Albee’s language indulgent by design, or does it undermine the play’s momentum?&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt; What kind of casting would make a Broadway revival of &lt;em&gt;The Goat&lt;/em&gt; viable today?&lt;/p&gt; &lt;br/&gt;&lt;br/&gt;This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit &lt;a href="https://bwaybreakdown.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&amp;#38;utm_campaign=CTA_1"&gt;bwaybreakdown.substack.com&lt;/a&gt;</description>

Broadway Breakdown

Matt Koplik

Deep Dive: THE GOAT, OR WHO IS SYLVIA? w/ Robert W. Schneider

DEC 18, 2025113 MIN
Broadway Breakdown

Deep Dive: THE GOAT, OR WHO IS SYLVIA? w/ Robert W. Schneider

DEC 18, 2025113 MIN

Description

<p>Edward Albee’s final play to open on Broadway remains one of the most controversial: <em>The Goat, or Who Is Sylvia?</em> In this Deep Dive, Matt and guest Robert W. Schneider unpack its infamous premise and explore why a play so boldly bonkers can be so shockingly rewarding. The two also explore how Albee weaponizes language, social taboos, and why the play’s legacy is still undefined.</p><p>Robert W. Schneider—director, educator, author, and longtime theater historian—is the perfect sparring partner for this conversation. A deep lover of Albee’s work with firsthand experience teaching and contextualizing <em>The Goat</em>, Rob brings historical perspective, production insight, and a fearless willingness to argue the play’s moral, emotional, and theatrical implications.</p><p></p><p><strong>Broadway Breakdown Links</strong></p><p>Broadway Breakdown:  <a target="_blank" href="https://discord.gg/AgjWNpzF">Discord Channel</a></p><p>Broadway Breakdown: <a target="_blank" href="https://bwaybreakdown.substack.com/?utm_campaign=profile_chips">Substack</a></p><p></p><p><strong>Timestamps</strong></p><p> 00:00 – Introduction</p><p> 06:45 – Plot overview and the play’s infamous reveal</p><p> 15:30 – Original Broadway production and cultural reaction in 2002</p><p> 20:00 – Mercedes Ruehl’s performance and the physical toll of Stevie</p><p> 38:30 – Tony Awards context and critical reception</p><p> 52:00 – Revivals, casting fantasies, and what it would take to bring it back</p><p> 1:15:00 – Legacy: is <em>The Goat</em> a masterpiece, a provocation, or both?</p><p> 1:27:00 – Final thoughts on Albee, tragedy, and modern audiences</p><p><strong>Key People:</strong></p><p>Edward Albee (Playwright), Mercedes Ruehl, Bill Pullman, Sally Field, Bill Irwin, Lindsay Duncan, Sarah Paulson, Eddie Redmayne</p><p><strong>Listener Discussion Questions:</strong></p><p> Does <em>The Goat</em> still shock modern audiences—or has the culture caught up to it?</p><p> Is Albee’s language indulgent by design, or does it undermine the play’s momentum?</p><p> What kind of casting would make a Broadway revival of <em>The Goat</em> viable today?</p> <br/><br/>This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit <a href="https://bwaybreakdown.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&#38;utm_campaign=CTA_1">bwaybreakdown.substack.com</a>