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From "Jennifers" Act I Sc 1


By Dean Lundquist - Posted on 06 November 2008

I love teaching.  One of the joys of it, especially as a playwright, is that your students (as well as actors and directors) can sometimes teach you things about your own work.  My student actors read a scene from "Jennifers" today as an exercise in defining character.  I think well made characters are usually based on real people that the playwright knows or sometimes even he playwright himself.  While some extremely gifted playwrights are able to create them purely out of their imagination, those of us not blessed or not yet evolved enough to do that resort to the former.  But, to the play:

(Jen, a mail carrier, the first and youngest of the three Jennifers, is very sexy and she knows it.  David uses her for his sexual gratification.  She loves him, but knows that the only thing she has that he is remotely interested in is her body and her money.  She loves disco music and dancing--which he abhors.  As David tries to read, she puts on Donna Summer's "Love to Love You Baby" and tries to give him a lap dance while singing the raunchy lyrics.) 

 
DAVID
Did anyone ever tell you you had a nice singing voice?
 
JEN
My ex did.
 
DAVID
He lied.
 
(she pouts, playfully)
 
JEN
Whatcha doin’?
 
DAVID
Reading?
JEN
Whatcha readin’?
 
DAVID
The Imaginary Cuckold.
 
JEN
(giggles) 
Imaginary cuckoo?
 
DAVID
CUCKOLD! It’s a play by Moliere.
 
JEN
MOLE HAIR?
 
DAVID
MOLIERE! 
 
JEN
Is it any good—as good as the last play you were in?
 
DAVID
Hamlet?
 
JEN
Oh yeah. (giggles) What was the name of the guy you played?
 
DAVID
Hamlet.
 
JEN
Yeah, anyway, you were the best, baby!
josh-con-carne's picture

I agree with Amy!

-Joshua

Amy of the Lakes's picture

I WANT Jennifer la Una to be my little sister. I heart her. This is awesome.

Ash Sanborn, the playwriting nom de plume of Amy Hillgren Peterson. Playwright, restorative justice practitioner, life force

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