Word: subplots
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...major strand of the novel follows Frederica's attempts to make a new life for herself and prevent Nigel from taking her son from her. This conflict will wind up, of course, in court. So does another subplot of the novel, the appearance of a strange, semipornographic novel, Babbletower, about a group of escapees from the French Revolution who try to form an ideal community and lapse instead into an orgy of violence and torture. Chapters of the novel are interspersed throughout the first half or so of Babel Tower, and when the thing is finally published, with the helping...
...play is not without its flaws. A meandering subplot in which Parker leaves the bar to wander next door is perplexing and distracting, and moments of direct interaction between Robinson and the audience come a bit too frequently. This interaction works when Robinson-as - Parker dedicates a song to a young woman in the audience, but is less successful when he addresses certain audience members as if they were acquaintances and expects them to improvise their half of the dialogue. These minor excesses are not enough to mar the subtle, touching portrait of Parker painted by Robinson's "Live Bird...
...Pamela subplot, which has the most potential to be something resembling a drama, is the most disappointing element of the monologue; we never hear enough about Pamela to believe that Marler is interested in her, and when he loses her we don't see it as any kind of defeat. The closest thing we get to an absorbing problem is Marler's struggle with social phobia, which he presents honestly and sympathetically; but this too is unresolved, apparently cured by having passed his exams...
...amusing is the subplot involving the Utah couple Rick (Andrew Sachs) and Elizabeth (Bess Wohl). The decision to play this naive young husband and wife as a pair of hicks is a lamentable one resulting in broad caricatures rather than sympathetic performances. These scenes are rushed; the characters seem to jump on stage, shout their lines and disappear forever...
While the tour of the stained glass inside thechurch is somewhat appealing artistically,constant proselytizing by members of the cult-likeand financially troubled church make this toursomething like that Traci Lords subplot on MelrosePlace. And who really cares about seeing theirstate-of-the-art day care center, anyways...