The Duck Variations presents two old friends, Emil and George, in 14 variations, talking about ducks – at least, ducks as they relate to our passages through life. As the two sit on a park bench watching ducks in the lake, they discuss leadership roles, conflict among different groups, sex, friendship and love, and, finally, death. The audience senses that Emil and George are not able to discuss these things openly, so they use the metaphor of the ducks to…