Talley’s Folly

Talley’s Folly tells the story of one evening in the courtship of two unlikely lovers, Sally Talley and Matt Friedman. Sally is from a conservative, small-town, wealthy family of bigoted Protestants, and Matt is a Jewish accountant twelve years older than Sally. The story of how they become brave enough to reveal their most painful secrets touched audiences and critics, and the play’s Broadway run was a great success. First produced in 1979, the play was nominated for several Tony Awards and won the Pulitzer Prize and the New York Drama Critics Circle Award in 1980 (among other awards).

More than two decades after its first production, Talley’s Folly is considered one of Wilson’s most hopeful and affirming plays.