Sabotaging Naturalism in Theater: The Elements of Chaos and Quantum Theory in David Rabe's Hurlyburly

This article examines the elements of quantum physics and chaos theory in David Rabe's play Hurlyburly. The article contends that, while the play seems to be built on naturalistic, rational and logical frameworks and seems to reflect the concerns of the well-made play, it in fact sabotages those frameworks and concerns. The play thus charts a third course between naturalism and the theater of the absurd. It is this third way that causes audiences some confusion when they view the play. The play prepares them for a naturalistic approach and then delivers a set of scenes and actions that abandon proportionate cause and effect and present random acts instead. At the same time, the play does offer a glimmer of hopt for some type of final redemption on the part of at least one of the characters, even if it is an ironic redemption that most likely means the annihilation of his quest for logical order in the universe.