Compare and contrast the character and motivations of Chance Wayne in Sweet Bird of Youth with Val Xavier in Orpheus Descending (1956). What kinds of pressures are the young men under and how do they handle them?

Research racial politics in the South in this time period. Was the castration of an innocent African American in the play realistic? Would such a crime have been prosecuted? How has the political situation in the South changed since this time period?

Compare and contrast Sweet Bird of Youth with the film Sunset Boulevard (1950). Consider how both the play and the film focus on movie starlets dealing with issues of aging. How do the different artistic forms affect content?

Research the psychology of people who heckle politicians, entertainers, and other public figures. Why do they heckle? Is heckling an effective means of getting a point across...