What is the author's tone in Dinner with Friends by Donald Margulies?

The play begins in a mood of excitement. Karen and Gabe are bubble over as they share the details of their recent trip to Europe. Beth, however, is in an entirely different mood.... exhausted, headachy, and suffering from loss.

Margulies presents this type of opposing moods throughout the play, pitting anger against frustration and sincerity against sarcasm. He also flips the characters moods around. Where once there was sorrow, now there is excitement. Where once there was security, now there is doubt. It is through Ins use of mood that Margulies shows the complexities of life. Emotions change