Kugler Analysis of The Nether by Nether by Jennifer Haley ONE PAGE PLAY REPORT FORM
NAME: Ryan Dumas
DATE: 03/12/2016 03/12/ 2016
PLAYWRIGHT: Jennifer Haley TITLE (date & draft #): The Nether (Final Draft; Draft Number Unknown) # PAGES: 73 # SCENES: 17 RUN TIME: 90 minutes MALE CHARACTERS (AGE/RACE): Sims (Age unspecified—adult businessman/Race unspecified) Papa (Age unspecified—same as Sims/Race unspecified—same as Sims) Cedric Doyle (Age unspecified—adult who has taught for 39 years/Race unspecified) Woodnut (Age unspecified—young adult/“fresh-faced”/Race unspecified) FEMALE CHARACTERS (AGE/RACE): Morris (Age unspecified—young cop/Race unspecified) Iris (Nine years old/Race unspecified) LOCALES: Interrogation Room; (All of the following in the Nether) Foyer of the Hideaway; Iris’s bedroom; outdoor outd oor “sunny spot” spo t” (Haley 42) GENRE: Drama/Sci-Fi/Social Issues and Ethics Theatre TIME/PERIOD: The near future LANGUAGE: English; naturalistic; accusatory and angry in the Interrogation Room/lyrical and OTHER: Must use young girl to play Iris so slightly disturbing in the Nether locations audience is not alienated DESCRIPTION (just the facts): Detective Morris is an officer in a unit that investigates the Nether, an online world that can be entered and used like virtual reality. “Papa” runs a realm known as “The Hideaway,” a Gothic mansion where
Dumas 2 STAGE CONFIGURATION & (unusual) TECH REQUIREMENTS: Stage configuration unspecified—likely proscenium; most unusual/difficult technical requirement would be switching between the interrogation room and the Hideaway locations; Sims must become Papa/Papa become Sims very quickly between scenes; Morris and Doyle must somehow morph into Woodnut and Iris (respectively), with Woodnut turning “halfway” back into Morris (Haley 66) FIRST IMPRESSIONS: This play rocked me to my core the first time I read it. It made me question just how valid human desire is, and how far are we allowed to go to satisfy our desires. It made me uncomfortable because I could see Sims’ point, that the Nether allowed him to practice his proclivities without actually harming children, but also completely understood Morris’ point that the intention of pedophilia in the Nether was crime enough. In an age where virtual reality is becoming more and more accessible and real, this play is important impo rtant in that it raises ethical ques tions about what w hat exactly is perm issible on the t he Internet/virtual worlds, and whether we are morally obligated to police what happens there if no one is harmed in the “real world.”
Dumas 3 Textual Breakdown French Scenes I. Morris and Sims, Interrogation Room i. Introduction to Morris and Sims II. Morris and Doyle, Interrogation Room i. Introduction to Doyle III. Morris and Sims, Interrogation Room i. “As the Nether becomes our contextual con textual framework for being, don’t you think it’s a bit out of date to say it isn’t real?” (13) IV. Papa and Iris, Foyer of the Hideaway (The Nether) i. Introduction to Papa and Iris V. Papa and Iris, Foyer of the Hideaway (The Nether) i. Introduction to Papa and Iris VI. Papa and Woodnut, Foyer of the Hideaway (The Nether) i. Introduction to Woodnut VII. Morris and Doyle, Interrogation Room i. “Who are we when we ‘interact’ without consequence?” (23) VIII. Woodnut and Iris, Iris’ Bedroom (The Nether) i. “It’s okay to do that here, Mr. Woodnut. It’s okay to forget who you think you are.” (28) IX. Morris and Sims, Interrogation Room i. “People should be free in their own imagination!” (31) X. Woodnut and Iris, Iris’ Bedroom (The Nether) i. Does Papa love Iris? XI. Woodnut, Iris and Papa, Iris’ Bedroom i. Iris chooses Papa over Woodnut XII. Morris and Doyle, Interrogation Room
Dumas 4 i.
XXI. XXII.
XXIII. XXIV.
Woodnut/Morris promises to follow through on the deal, but Iris does not respond. Woodnut/Morris, Investigation Room i. Morris finds Doyle missing. Morris and Sims, Interrogation Room i. Morris reveals Iris’ identity and Doyle’s suicide. ii. “You don’t know what you do, Detective, putting me out into the world. (71) Sims, Interrogation Room i. Morris has exited, and Sims is alone. Sims and Doyle, No Location Specified i. Repeat of Scene Ten
Dumas 5 List of Production Elements Use of Space (Set) “INTERROGATION ROOM” (5) “… sits…” sits…” (5) – chairs “…across “…across a wide table…” table…” (5) – wide table, chairs on both sides “…my phone call.” (5) (5) - may see a phone “…have a terminal here…” (5) – may see the terminal “Victorian. Set back from a country lane. Children on the front porch…” (6) – description of exterior of the Hideaway “…walk out the door.” (6) – there is a door “…the trees.” (7) – exterior to the Hideaway “…surround a beautifully rendered 1880s Gothic revival with a squeak in the top porch step. I ring the doorbell….window and spy figures in the foyer…” (7-8) – description of exterior of the Hideaway “THE HIDEAWAY FOYER, THE NETHER” (16) – there is a foyer “…tall “…tall windows.” windows.” (16) “…enters as IRIS runs in…” in…” (16) – there is an entryway “…beautiful home…” (18) – the home is beautiful “…go to the parlor.” (18) – there is a parlor and an entryway en tryway to it “…perfectly rendered vintage Steinway pianoforte.” (20) – may be seen in parlor through foyer “…a window seat.” (20) - may be seen in parlor through foyer “…up a grand staircase to the second floor.” (20) – may be seen “…down a darkened hallway, doors on both sides and the walls covered with weapons.” (20) • • • • • •
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“[MORRIS returns halfway to herself and finds DOYLE missing from the interrogation room.]” room.]” (66) – there is a way to easily get from one location to the other “She exits…” exits…” (71) – the interrogation room has an exit
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“[consulting “[consulting a report ]” ]” (6) – has a report, possibly in hand (repeats several times, likely has reports at least nearby in all interrogation scenes) “…clutching my carpetbag.” (8) – Woodnut has bag when he enters the Hideaway “Hanging above it, covered in dark red stains, is an axe.” (20) “…the bunny’s ear…” (21) – Iris has a toy bunny “ stuffed rabbit …” …” (25) – Iris’ rabbit again “…a “…a bag of jacks…” jacks…” (27) “…hands “…hands him the ball.” ball.” (27) – Iris has a jacks set “…takes “…takes the record off the gramophone and holds it up.” up.” (34) “…that candy…” (42) – may see candy “[ He He lifts the cover. The cake is beautiful, multitiered. It looks like glass.]” glass.]” (44) – the cake “It’s made of ice that will never melt.” (44) – more on the cake “…its crystal patterns.” (44) –cake has crystal patterns “…carries “…carries a bouquet of flowers.” flowers.” (50) “… pours two glasses of cognac...” cognac...” (51) – glasses, bottle, liquid, possible table set “[She “[She begins to pack up.]” up.]” (70) – Morris has several items in the interrogation room, as well as a bag/something to put it all in
Costumes “…in long stockings and sailor caps.” (6) – clothes of children in the Hideaway •
Dumas 7
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“The flickering light…” (7)- outside the Hideaway “…they sway in the sun…” (7) – natural light “[ A A ray of sunlight beams through a tall window…” window…” (16) “Sunshine. Warmth.” (25) – exist in Iris’ bedroom “…late spring.” (25) – quality of the light “… stands in the sunlight and shadows of leaves.]” leaves.]” (28) “A SUNNY SPOT” (42) – it is sunny outdoors “…an afternoon…” (43) – it is afternoon light “[ Late-afternoon Late-afternoon sun pours through the window…” window…” (50) “[ Evening Evening now…” now…” (54) –absence of light/darkness
Music, and Sound “I ring the doorbell.” (8) – may hear the sound of a doorbell “…the low sounds of what must be a fourth child, whimpering.” (20) – might hear sounds of whimpering “[ Music Music spills from a gramophone…” gramophone…” (33) – hear music, sounds like its coming from a gramophone “They waltz.” waltz.” (33) – music that could be waltzed to “[The “[The music ends.” ends.” (33) “I can hear it. It’s the sound of freezing and unfreezing.” (44) – sound the cake makes “The sound of tiny dwarves who live in snowy mountains singing falsetto….It must be only for children to hear.” (44) – other sound, we as audience may not hear it “…listening “…listening to the wind in the leaves.]” leaves.]” (46) “I can hear it. It’s the sound of freezing and unfreezing.” (72) – sound the cake makes “The sound of tiny dwarves who live in snowy mountains singing falsetto….It must be only for children to hear.” (72) – other sound, we as audience may not hear it • •
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Dumas 8 List of Tensions • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •
Legal vs. illegal RIGHT VS. WRONG Desire vs. need Safety vs. danger Ethical vs. moral Ethical vs. legal Moral vs. legal Youth vs. age Man vs. woman Real vs. constructed Complicity vs. coercion Desire vs. compulsion Desire vs. satisfaction Satisfaction vs. completion Rules vs. laws Order vs. legality Safe vs. Right Many vs. Few Real vs. fake Right vs. legal Love vs. companionship Love vs. toleration
