Three characters: a gentleman, a sailor and a dancer. What would happen if this unusual combination of humans was stuck on a small boat in the middle of the ocean with no food or water? The result is a ferocious exploration of the fragility of human mind, the triviality of social etiquette andthe active discrimination that surfaces when resources become scarce.

Written by a young O’Neill, THIRST augurs the ambition and vision for which this playwright became so well known. Interested in presenting the psychological depth and breadth of a novel on the stage, he began his writing career with a series of smaller works in which he honed his skills. Thirst is one of the earliest of these pieces.