This play is a disturbing look at the relationship between parents and children, as well as the role of psychiatrists in “correcting” violent and psychotic behavior. It begins after Alan Strang has committed acts of violence against several horses. His obsession with horses are traced to his relationship with his parents, resulting in his parents’ decision to push him away after he is put into a hospital. The psychiatrist, Dysart, slowly begins to question his own sanity and whether it is “right” to help Strang become a part of everyday society.

What makes this play such a compelling drama are the choices Shaffer makes in telling this story. It is told through flashbacks, with Dysart as the narrator, and the play quickly shifts between scenes and voices-I can imagine seeing this on stage would be even more disturbing. This is not a play for the faint-hearted; there is no happy ending and when the play is finished I felt very unsettled. Shaffer clearly makes the reader question who is to blame for Alan’s crimes. The players are revealed very slowly through the play, and with each piece the story becomes more complex. For fans of modern literature, this is certainly a play to add to your “must read” list.