"The Black Seed" by Grace BrackenridgeThe stereotypical character of Mr. Grape, the high-strung, sarcastic director of a production of the play "The Black Seed," pretty much 'steals the story' here, I'd venture.
The drama is supposed to be a new version of "Oedipus Rex," but it's predictably somewhat parallel to the 1950s film "The Bad Seed"--it ends up being rewritten to include a climactic mother/son spanking scene, an on-stage "punishment" which the narrator is the recipient of.
IMHO its sardonic commentary on the lower level of 'show business' is this narrative's strong point...

--C.K.