The theater is a remarkable place where you leave your everyday life and take a break. They take the opportunity to go see the works of art that we call plays. A Visit to a Small Planet was written by playwright Gore Vidal in 1956. You have to carefully review a play before you fully understand what message the author was trying to convey. You have to explore the life of Gore Vidal to understand why he wrote his plays. Critics play a very important role in appreciating these masterpieces. After examining Gore Vidal's past, understanding his plays, and reviewing the reviews, we can fully understand Visit to a Small Planet. Gore Vidal, originally known as Eugene Luther Gore Vidal, was born in West Point in New York (Vidal 1). . He was born on the American military base on October 3, 1925. Young Gore Vidal spent his childhood in Washington DC with his maternal grandfather (Kunitz 1031). His father was Eugène Luther Vidal (Vidal 1). His father served in the United States Army as an aeronautics instructor. He was the star of the Army football team. He also competed in the decathlon at the 1920 Olympic Games in Belgium. His mother was Nina Vidal and she was the daughter of a senator from Oklahoma (1). Gore Vidal's grandfather was known as Senator Thomas Pryor Gore (Kunitz 1031). He was blinded in a minor accident. Gore Vidal gained some experience with literature by reading to his grandfather, who had an extensive library. Gore Vidal shared a deep relationship with his grandfather, as he led him to the Senate at the age of seven. Gore Vidal went to St Alban's boarding school in Washington DC (Vidal 2). He then attended Los Alamos Ranch School. It ultimately...... middle of paper...... only a story, but a subtle message having to do with behavior towards other countries and the military. Works Cited "Biography of Gore Vidal". Success Academy. Internet. April 24, 2011. .Gould, Jack. “Review of Visit to a Small Planet.” Literary Resource Center. The New York Times. Internet. April 24, 2011. .Moran, Daniel. “A glimpse into visiting a small planet.” Literary Resource Center. Internet. April 24, 2011. “Ed. Stanley J. Kunitz. "Authors of the Twentieth Century. New York: HW Wilson, 1955. 1031. Print." Visit to a Small Planet (1957). " Works for the theater by Gore Vidal: 1956-1972. Web. April 24. 2011. .