Shawn's early plays, such as "Marie and Bruce" (1978), portrayed emotional and sexual conflicts in an absurdist style, with language both lyrical and violent. In a conversation with Andre Gregory, parts of which were used to create "My Dinner with Andre", Shawn said these plays depicted "my interior life as a raging beast." Critical response was extremely polarized: some critics hailed Shawn as a major writer, while John Simon called "Marie and Bruce" "garbage" and Shawn "one of the unsightliest actors in this city." His 1977 play "A Thought in Three Parts" caused controversy in London when the production was investigated by a vice squad and attacked in Parliament after allegations of pornographic content. Shawn received the Obie Award for best playwrighting in 1974 for "Our Late Night".