The Man Who Had Three Arms

This is a two-act play for three actors by Edward Albee.

The play takes place in a theatre where the main character Himself is about to speak to the assembled group about his life of celebrity as "The Man Who Had Three Arms". The other two actors of the play, The Man and The Woman, play, variously, two people who are introducing Himself, the parents and wife of Himself, and the manager of Himself. In the first act, Himself describes his transformation from a successful family man to a person who is horrified to discover that a third arm is growing from between his shoulder blades. In the second act, Himself describes being on the celebrity circuit and all that entails—“money, sex, adulation”—while he grows more and more in debt. His wife leaves him. He falls apart in front of the audience only to deal with a final surprise.

The play contains harsh satire of the Catholic Church, the excesses of the culture of celebrity, and the shallowness of parent/child relationships, and involves some interaction between the lead character and the audience. It also contains quite a bit of humor and occasional vulgar language. The third arm may be a metaphor for the discovery and development of genius or talent in an otherwise unremarkable individual.

Albee directed the Broadway premiere of the play at the Lyceum Theatre in New York City in April 1983 with Robert Drivas in the title role. Frank Rich reviewing the production for The New York Times wrote that it "isn't a play - it's a temper tantrum in two acts... One of the more shocking lapses of Mr. Albee's writing is that he makes almost no attempt even to pretend that Himself is anything other than a maudlin stand-in for himself, with the disappearing arm representing an atrophied talent." The play ran for only 16 performances - at least one of which was booed during the curtain call. Albee would not have another new play performed in New York City for the next 11 years.

The play was presented in Albright College, Reading, Pennsylvania, in 1989. It was directed by Dr. Lynn Morrow and starred Edward Fernandez. (Mr. Albee was in residence during the production period.) Dr. Dickson then presented the production in Edinburgh, Scotland, where it won a "Fringe First" award. Most references to the play overlook the prestigious award it won for Mr. Albee.