Skin

For the First Act, I was almost entirely lost between frequent whimpers of "It's cold" (31) escaping the mammoth and dinosaur and constant outbursts of "I don't understand a single word of this play" (12) betraying Sabina's character. Why does Sabina, and later Henry, deviate from character? There is no separation between performance and reality. The audience becomes a meaningful participant in the play.  Another oddity, Henry is, oh, four thousand years old and treated as but a boy, yet the Telegraph Boy is only twelve with a wife and children.

Notice the Acts are not prescribed in one fixed theme of disaster: Act I--natural disaster, Act II--moral disaster, Act III--political disaster. In what way does that affect the intent of the play? Always rebuilding, but no matter the form of disaster the pattern of restoration remains the same. So is there really any progress? The play ends right back at the beginning.

Gladys becomes the Father's favorite because he resents Cain for killing his beloved son Abel.  But what purpose does her character fulfill? Every other main character has biblical association; Gladys (as far as I know) does not.  There were just two notable happenings for Gladys. One in Act II, where Mrs. Antrobus rips a raincoat from Gladys legs to bare the shocking stockings to Mr. Antrobus; the other being an abrupt appearance of her baby in Act III.  If you are like me--unsure of how to interpret Gladys, you might want to browse Telling the Past in The Skin of Our Teeth  which couples Henry and Gladys as cautionary figures for the past and future.

My final grievance, more or less a personal annoyance, is Mrs. Antrobus and Sabina's relationship.  Sabina is rude to Maggie (Eve) spouting hurtful remarks like, "you're not a beautiful woman" (15), and attempts to seduce George (Adam) in Act II.  Amazingly Mrs. Antrobus still allows her to be an extended part of the family. Hmmm...

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