- Tape (play)
"Tape" is a
1999 play byStephen Belber . It followsclassical unities of action, time and space, featuring three characters in a singleplot (narrative) regarding their differing perspectives of past events, in one unbroken period of real-time, in a single motel room set. It was first produced at theActors Theatre of Louisville as part of the 2000Humana Festival of New American Plays . It was later filmed byRichard Linklater asTape (film) starringEthan Hawke ,Robert Sean Leonard , andUma Thurman .ynopsis
"Tape" is set in a motel room in
Lansing, Michigan . Vince, an outgoingdrug dealer /volunteer firefighter, is in town to support his old high school friend’s entry into the Lansingfilm festival .His friend, documentary
filmmaker Jon Saltzman, joins Vince in his motel room and the two begin to reminisce about their high school years. They get on the subject of Amy Randall, Vince's former girlfriend. It appears that whilst they dated for some time, Vince and Amy never had sex. However, after their relationship had ended, Amy had slept with Jon. Naturally, Vince was hurt even though he and Amy had broken up some time previously.Vince claims Amy had told him that Jon had
date rape d her. Vince becomes obsessed with, and eventually succeeds in getting a verbal confession from Jon about the alleged rape. Immediately after Jon's admission, Vince pulls out a hiddentape recorder that had been recording their whole conversation, much to Jon's horror. Vince then tells Jon that he has invited Amy to dinner, and that she will be arriving shortly.Eventually Amy does arrive and even though all three of them feel awkward, they begin to talk. Amy explains that she is now an Assistant District Attorney in the Lansing Justice Department. Eventually the three discuss what actually happened between Jon and Amy that night at the party.
Amy claims that it was merely rough sex and that Jon did not rape her, leading Jon to believe that she is in denial. After Jon becomes annoyed that Amy is refusing to accept his apology, Amy makes a call with her
cell phone to the localpolice . She asks for a squad car to pick up one person in possession of drugs (Vince), and one in relation to a verifiable rape (Jon). After concluding her phone call, Amy warns the men that they only have about four minutes to make a run for it.In order to prove to Amy that he is truly remorseful, Jon decides to stay and wait for the police. Vince, realizing that there is nowhere for him to run, flushes his
narcotics down the toilet.Amy reveals that she didn't really call the police, and leaves.
Notable Performances
*
New York 2002 produced byNaked Angels Theater Company at theJose Quintero Theater with Dominic Fumusa, Josh Stamberg and Alison West.
*Dublin 2002 produced byAboutFACE Theatre Company atTheatre@36 with Paul Nugent, Anna Olson and Alan Walsh.
*Soho Theatre ,London ,2003 with the original NY cast.External links
[http://www.britishtheatreguide.info/reviews/tape-rev.htm British Theatre Guide review]
[http://www.curtainup.com/tape.html CurtainUp review]
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