Late playwright Edward Albee orders destroying his incomplete works

CAIRO - 8 July 2017: Prominent late American playwright Edward Albee has requested in his will that any of his incomplete manuscripts, following his death, be destroyed according to a New York Times article last week.

“I, at the time of my death, shall leave any incomplete manuscripts I hereby direct my executors to destroy such incomplete manuscripts,” said Albee in his will which was written in 2012.

Although it is not clear whether the papers have been destroyed, the assigned executors have been implementing steps based on Albee’s will. The unfinished works include his final project called ‘Laying an Egg’ which revolves around a middle-aged woman who is trying to get pregnant; the play was withdrawn twice by Albee for not being ready.

Until the manuscripts are destroyed the executors should “treat the materials herein directed to be destroyed as strictly confidential and to ensure that such materials are not copied, made available for scholarly or critical review or made public in any way,” the will reads.

Despite Albee’s will, other copies of manuscripts may remain available including the one acquired by Elizabeth Ireland MacCann who reportedly has a version of the scrip of ‘Laying and Egg’.

The playwright is known for the 1962 stirring drama “Virginia Woolf,” that was later adapted into a film starring Elizabeth Taylor. By the time of his death in 2016 at the age of 88, Albee had won three Pulitzer prizes in 1967 for his works ‘A Delicate Balance’ (1967), ‘Seascape’ (1975), and ‘Three Tall Women’ (1994), among other awards.

‘Three Tall Women’ is performing live until this day and a revival on Broadway is expected to open next year.