Peter Wolfe’s new book isn’t just a groundbreaking introduction to one of today’s leading American playwrights; it’s also a subtle, carefully nuanced critique. This first book-length monograph on Terrence McNally shows how McNally’s decades in the theatre have both deepened and refined his thoughts on subjects like growing up gay in mannish, homophobic Texas, Shakespeare’s legacy in contemporary drama, and the life-giving power of forgiveness.

McNally believes that the ability to forgive confirms our humanity because the wrongs perpetrated against us usually don’t deserve to be forgiven. Putting them behind us, he knows, too, challenges the most high-minded. He likens this to the idea, from Edward Albee’s Zoo Story, of having to go a great distance out of our way to cover a short distance correctly. This journey, he views as vital. Wolfe shows how his impeccable timing, his instinct for a good laugh line, and his preference for physical sensation and character over plot helps him reveal both what’s important to his people and why his people are important. These revelations will shake up your preconceptions. Often shaking your sides with laughter, too, they leave you in a better place-while providing, to boot, a great evening at the theatre.