Theresa Rebeck has been
writing for television, film, theatre and Spike Heels was her first play to
gain worldwide notice. The play is written around four characters: Andrew, a philosophy
teacher and writer, his friend and a smarmy lawyer Edward, his neighbour and
Edward’s secretary, Georgie and finally, Lydia, his fiancée. The play explores
themes like: sexual harassment, social appearances and the control and use of
women.
Georgie is from a working-class
background, she is lusty, impulsive, sarcastic, practical and attractive. She
did not attend college, so Andrew, her neighbour becomes Georgie’s school
mentor, giving her books to read, encouraging her on changing her manners, especially in the way she speaks, and helping her finding a job as a secretary.
Georgie starts working for Andrew’s best friend, the womaniser Edward, in his law
office. Andrew and his neighbour fall in love without admitting it, but their
feelings come to the surface when Georgie confesses that she has been harassed
by Edward. The two men end up fighting for the same woman and Andrew seems to forget
that he is engaged with Lydia, Edward’s ex-girlfriend as well. Lydia is from an old, upper-class Boston family. When she begins to
notice her future husband is in love with Georgie, she goes on to her
apartment and confronts Georgia about this situation, tying to put her in her
place. 
The play has very strong themes and characters but the dialogues sometimes end up being predictable, repetitive and too explicative. I found many moving moments, specially the scene between Lydia and Georgie and some moments between Georgie and Edward, but then I felt that I needed moments of silence during my reading. I felt that those characters need to stop talking a little and do something else, or breathe.
I bought it because I read somewhere that the play has a very strong female monologue in it. Georgie’s speech is, in fact, worth it to explore. The moment happens when Lydia shows up to confront her about Andrew.
Georgie is from a working-class
background, she is lusty, impulsive, sarcastic, practical and attractive. She
did not attend college, so Andrew, her neighbour becomes Georgie’s school
mentor, giving her books to read, encouraging her on changing her manners, especially in the way she speaks, and helping her finding a job as a secretary.
Georgie starts working for Andrew’s best friend, the womaniser Edward, in his law
office. Andrew and his neighbour fall in love without admitting it, but their
feelings come to the surface when Georgie confesses that she has been harassed
by Edward. The two men end up fighting for the same woman and Andrew seems to forget
that he is engaged with Lydia, Edward’s ex-girlfriend as well. Lydia is from an old, upper-class Boston family. When she begins to
notice her future husband is in love with Georgie, she goes on to her
apartment and confronts Georgia about this situation, tying to put her in her
place. 
The play has very strong themes and characters but the dialogues sometimes end up being predictable, repetitive and too explicative. I found many moving moments, specially the scene between Lydia and Georgie and some moments between Georgie and Edward, but then I felt that I needed moments of silence during my reading. I felt that those characters need to stop talking a little and do something else, or breathe.
I bought it because I read somewhere that the play has a very strong female monologue in it. Georgie’s speech is, in fact, worth it to explore. The moment happens when Lydia shows up to confront her about Andrew.
Georgie. (Finally angry) But what I don't have, you know - what I don't know is - if you're so fucking real, Lydia, then what the hell are you doing here? I mean, if you're so much better than me, than why even bother? you could just wait it out and I'll drift away like a piece of paper, like nothing, right? 'Cause that's what I am. Nothing. Right? So why the fuck are you up here, taking me apart?
Lydia: I don't think I have to justify myself to you.
Once we realize that imperfect understanding is the human condition there is no shame in being wrong, only in failing to correct our
ReplyDeletemistakes. See the link below for more info.
#shame
www.ufgop.org