Book excerpt: From an American playwright who “is in a class by himself,” two acclaimed plays linked by a character who comes of age in the sixties. (The New York Times) In John Guare’s classic play The House of Blue Leaves, winner of the New York Drama Critics Circle Award for best play, the Pope is visiting New York, and eighteen-year-old Ronnie goes AWOL from the army to come home to New York and blow up the Pope as he passes his house. In his new play, Chaucer in Rome, it is the year 2000, and Ron and his wife come to Rome to search for their son. With his inimitable wit and understanding, Guare has written two scathingly funny satires on the warping hunger for fame, and the betrayal involved in creating art. Praise for The House of Blue Leaves: “Splendid . . . a joyful affirmation of life and of John Guare’s artistry.” —The New York Times “A woozy, fragile, hilarious heartbreaker . . . the writing is lush with sad, ironic wisdom about fame, love, and deluded values.” —USA Today Praise for Chaucer in Rome: “Guare makes us become voyeurs even as we scorn voyeurism—thus offering a titillating, troubling commentary on life.” —USA Today “Guare’s most disciplined, merciless yet lovable work since Six Degrees of Separation and maybe his best yet.” —New York Newsday