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Deborah Stein


© Copyright 2003 University of California at San Diego.
photo by jason frank rothenberg

    conceived and created by Joseph Chaikin and The Pig Iron Theatre Company

    Music by James Sugg

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    CHARACTERS

  • Matthew Henshaw

  • Dr. Michaels

  • Christina

  • Judy Henshaw

  • April

  • Clark

  • Claire

  • Joe Terrelson

  • The Accordionist (Sandman)

  • Mike

    The following roles are doubled and played by the same actor: Christina/Claire; Mike/Dr. Michaels; The Accordionist/Joe Terrelson.

A note on the staging

    All transitions and scene changes occur onstage. Actors and set pieces appear and disappear in full view of the audience, as white curtained screens whisk across the stage, depositing a table where there was none or transforming an actor from one character into another. There are no blackouts. * indicates the start of overlapping dialogue.

SCENE 1

    As the audience enters, they encounter MATTHEW asleep in a hospital bed, covered up to his chin with a white sheet. There is a white screen behind him to complete the image of a hospital room; there is no actual hospital equipment. A silver chair is set next to the bed, on the stage left side. The only other scenery is a tall silver extension ladder up stage right, extending up as far as the eye can see.

SCENE 2

    Lights up onstage to reveal MATTHEW in the hospital bed and the long screen sitting upstage of it. The sounds of the hospital: beeps of the heart monitor, crackling of the loudspeaker, etc. DR. MICHAELS stands by the bed, checking vital signs.

    LOUDSPEAKER: Dr. Michaels to radiology. Dr. Michaels to radiology.

    DR. MICHAELS exits.

    CHRISTINA enters, pushing her mop in a bright yellow mop bucket. Begins to mop. Sounds of mopping. The slap on the floor. The clatter of it hitting the bucket. The cascade as it drains. The squeak of sneakers. CHRISTINA mops for a long time, around the room, around the bed, under it. Moves the chair when necessary and replaces it unceremoniously. She seems to not notice MATTHEW.

    LOUDSPEAKER: Dr. Matthews to the OR. Dr. Matthews to the OR.

    JUDY'S VOICE: (As she enters on cellphone) Mom, I'll have to call you back--I can't use this in the hospital--Why is this door open? Dr. Michaels?

    JUDY sees the wet...

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