In Masks Outrageous and Austere is the final full-length play of Tennessee Williams, written perhaps as early as 1970, but chiefly between 1978 and the fall of 1982.
The play follows what Williams described as a "nightmarish", “extremely funny,” and “bizarre as hell” story involving the kidnapping of the rich southerner Babe Foxworth by a nefarious corporation.
[3] The play finally received its world premiere in New York City in April 2012, directed by David Schweizer and starring Shirley Knight as Babe.
She has been brought there by the Gideons, a secret service-like security team, employed by Kudzu Chem, the clandestine corporation behind her vast wealth.
Under a flickering Aurora Borealis, they meet their wacky neighbors from the invisible house next door, the opera singing Matron and her mentally challenged son Playboy who can only say "Coo" and is a compulsive masturbator.
"[8] According to Dorff, Masks Outrageous and The Red Devil Battery Sign present "without doubt, the bleakest world views to be found in the Williams canon.... where characters are sure to meet with destruction."
[10] Williams wrote at least three drafts, full copies of which have been identified in Columbia University's Rare Book and Manuscript Library.
The names of the drafts in chronological order are Tent Worms, In Masks Outrageous and Austere, and Gideon's Point.
Finally, an end draft Masks Outrageous, edited by Williams with Gavin Lambert, was placed in the Columbia University archives in New York.
After his death the producers continued to develop the script for production and brought in a chain of distinguished editors and dramaturgs to bring the play more in line with the dialogue, situations and structures found in William’s original drafts.
At the United States Copyright Office, one cannot find a record affirming Lambert's editorial contribution to “Masks Outrageous".
[17] A version of the script dated November 6, 2007 surfaced which bears Final Reconciled Draft on the title page,[18] but did not name Gore Vidal as editor.