Jennifers by Dean Lundquist

Here's a first draft.  Still need to fix some stuff.  I'll ask Dorothy to enable you all to read it.

Much love,

Dean

I happen to think Heathers is one of the best comedies ever written for the screen. It's a dark comedy that really bites hard!

Just my opinion!

Thanks for your comments, Amy.

I never even thought of "Heathers".  I've never seen it. 

While (for me) having the human kind of children is not an impeding biological concern, it is with my wife.  I live in Southeast Asia.  The norm in society here is that both parents work, and, for the most part, their children are either raised by their retired grandparents or a domestic worker (maid) from the Phillipines or Indonesia.  I wrote a play about this phenomena ("GIFTED").   http://www.deanlundquist.com/attachments/GIFTED.pdf  The last thing I want is to have to work two jobs so that I can afford a child--and yet not afford the time to spend with him or her.   I feel like I have foregone my opportunity to have children.  Perhaps that is sad.  But, after struggling with that possible reality, I am finally okay with it. 

For me, being lucky enough to work in the theatre and with other artists, both the young and young at heart,  keeps me fulfilled.  As much as I complain sometimes, there is nothing else that I'd rather do.  It's not an easy life.  But I created it, and I got what I wanted.  I'm grateful that everyday I get to go teach or write or direct or meet with producers, or whatever I have to do to make work for myself.  And at the end of the day, if all I have to show for it is my work, that is okay.  Hopefully it touched someone.  Or brightened their outlook or made them see things in a different way, or gave them greater understanding. Made thier lives better.  Or even just distracted them from the pressures of life for a little while.    

My wife doesn't have the reality that I have--that the theatre is my church.  It's a spiritual place for me--holy, ritualistic.  And when I am at my best, writing is a soulful, mystical, magical, maybe even religious experience.  I tap into parts of me I had forgotten, or never knew existed.  It's personal.  It's guided by my conscious, intellectual self, but the creativity comes from someplace else.  When I finish, and share it, it is scary.  It's like I've exposed a little piece of myself.  But in doing so, I feel freer.  More liberated.  More creative. 

My very good friend and (I think brillant) playwright Alex Broun and I were chatting a few weeks ago.  We were talking about character.  We came to the conclusion that what we like about the plays we like, usually the ones that connect with an audience, is their humanity.  I feel like if I can capture that, get it on the page, everything else will take care of itself.   

I like what Peter Sellars has to say:

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/questionofgod/voices/sellars.html

Peter came up and taught at Berkeley for a semester when I was there years ago.   He has his critics.  I'm not one of them.  But I think we're on the same page.

Much love,

Dean

...and much better than "Heathers" which, I apologize, is what I first thought of when I saw the title "Jennifers" -- mind you, without having seen your profile, other posts (including the one about Our Plays are Our Children and as a mother of three who's about a year and a half younger than you I have to say having the human kind of children is an intensely personal decision but not an either or proposition as an artist -- just because I haven't written a play in 14 years and my eldest is 15 -- if you are concerned about the biological aspects of bringing a child into the world, might I suggest, as an adoptee, adoption?)  or knowing anything about you.

Anyway, thanks for being here to inspire us and I hope the Jennifers turn out just as you raise them.

Toodles

Amy

I am absolutely loving writing it.  Semi-autobiographical.  I have very high hopes for it, but need to finish that first draft.  Have finished 4 scenes.

Thanks for the support!

An intersting premise, indeed. Good luck!