Talley's Folly History

Did You Know?

Talley’s Folly is actually the second play in what’s known as the “Talley Trilogy.” Writer Lanford Wilson’s trilogy includes: Talley’s Folly, Talley & Son, and lastly Fifth of July–all of which take place on the Talley farm.

 

Fifth of July

Wilson wrote Fifth of July first in 1978. This play remarks on the disillusionment of the Vietnam War. A paraplegic Vietnam War veteran, Kenneth Talley Jr., reunites with his family one weekend on July 5, 1977. Sally, who we meet in Talley’s Folly, appears as Kenneth’s aunt. More family and friends come to visit for the holiday. Throughout the course of the play, a family friend offers to buy their home, but Sally is not ready to give it up. Secrets suppressed within the family are uprooted, and the characters face past choices they’ve made that influence their future.

 

Talley's Folly

Talley’s Folly takes place on July 4, 1944, in Lebanon, Missouri, and is ultimately a conversation between Sally Talley, a young woman that is wooed by the second character, Matt Friedman, a World War 1 veteran. Matt spends most of the conversation eagerly convincing Sally that their love is no match for the Talleys’ rejection of their relationship. Later, we find that the two are undoubtedly meant to share a life together.

 

Talley & Son

Talley & Son is the second play Wilson wrote for his trilogy, but it takes place on the same day as Talley’s Folly on July 4, 1944. This play begins with a conflict between Matt, Sally, and Sally’s brother. However, much of the play focuses on the relationship between Old Man Talley and his son, Buddy. Mr. Talley, suffering from dementia, is determined to save the ownership of his textile factory. He believes his youngest son, Timmy, should run the factory. Unfortunately, the audience learns that Timmy is dead, but the family doesn’t know this yet. Their resulting interactions with each other will influence the relationships and future financial stability of the long-standing Talley farm.