The David Vetter Show

The David Vetter Show is a play written by Laurie Eaves, with contributions from George Banks, Marco Marino and Simon Robson. It was premiered in 2007 based on the life of David Vetter and originally directed by Robson. It was Eaves' first tragedy, having previously only worked on comedy. The play was unauthorised by Vetter's family but according to Eaves "the subject matter is treated with the respect it deserves."

Background

The Sussex actors had a deadline imposed upon them by local authority to create a new piece to perform at a revue. Having only previously worked in comedy the four writers decided to instead try and create a serious piece and began coming up with ideas. According to Eaves "We decided to do a serious play because we were sick of not being taken seriously and we also wanted a play we could be proud of. Also, it had to be better than Bradley Hall's recent play."

Brainstorming took place during the spring, during which time Leo McKenzie-Caunt was contracted to take part in the as-yet-unspecified project. After a few weeks brain-storming the group had yet to come up with a decent concept, only deciding that they may do a dystopian tragedy. Script supervisor Emma Molineaux-Inglis even began reasarching the genre when the concept was erratically changed to the life of David Vetter. Apparently, this idea came from Marino's viewing of the Bodyshock documentary which covered the life of the boy. Over lunch Banks made a comment that Marino looked like David Vetter and the group immediately decided that this would be the idea to proceed with.

Script-writing took place from February to April 2007 with chief writing duties falling to Eaves, although contributions were made by Banks (including much of the opening scene), Robson and Marino. Actors Luke Horne and Christina Weston were also drawn into the cast.

Production Problems and Weston's Departure

Props were commissioned, including the specified bubble for the character of David and promotion occurred, including some radio and poster adverts.It became apparent relatively quickly that there were tensions between the cast members, specifically concerning Weston. In the weeks leading up to the play's premiere she showed little understanding of her lines, causing several arguments within the cast. "There were problems. Severe problems. She would ring in sick to avoid rehearsals or just not show at all." said Eaves. Horne was even more to the point claiming "She's a bitch". Robson, who directed the project has said he regrets not firing her earlier.

Things came to a head when, moments before the play was scheduled to begin Weston appeared to faint. The rest of the cast refused to believe that she had fainted ("Her acting sick was as atrocious as her acting onstage" said Eaves)and left her on the floor of the wings whilst they performed the play, with understudy Jess Lake filling in as Carol-Ann Vetter. As Robson said afterwards "It was better without her. Jess didn't know the script but she did her best. Unlike Kristina who did nothing."

Despite the sour events behind the scenes the final production was praised, with Troy Status claiming it to be "enjoyable enough". Eaves has said "For our first proper play, I'd say it went OK. It was something to build on for the sebsequent play. (2008's Erm...)”

Title

The title “The David Vetter Show” seems to be quite an obtuse name for a play which is supposed to be a tragedy and some may claim it offensive to those close to David. However, Eaves has defended his use of the title “The title was intended as a comment on the sensationalistic tabloid culture and their treatment of David’s story. It is a very poignant theme in the play. Of course it’s horrible to make a show out of someone with a disability, which is why the title is meant to be taken with a touch of irony.”

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Act One

The cyclical play begins with the funeral of David Vetter III, son of Carol-Ann Vetter. A poem is recited by the priest which uses a lot of symbolism to do with the tragedy of child death. In a complete juxtaposition the next scene concerns the bringing of new life into the world. After a test at a clinic Carol-Ann is informed that she is pregnant. It is established to the audience that her David Vetter III died of Severe Combined Immunodeficiency a condition which practically renders the immune system useless. She is informed by Doctor Thompson that due to new research it has been discovered that the disease is carried on the X chromosome, meaning that there is a fifty percent chance of any future children having the same life-threatening condition. She seeks advice from Dr. John Montgomery who advises her that abortion is an option. However, due to her catholic beliefs she decides this is not an option. Dr. Montgomery then tells her of a new method of isolation via a plastic bubble, which will allow the child to live in a sterile environment, free from any germs which may cause immense problems to the child, should they have SCID. The audience does not see her decision, but it is implied she will go for the bubble option. The scene then shifts five years into the future. Carol-Ann has given birth to a boy, David Vetter IV who has lived out his first five years in the captivity of a plastic bubble in Texas General Hospital. David’s family celebrate his birthday and then leave the scene. David receives a new carer Murphy Malone (a character based on David’s real-life nurse, Mary Murphy). Shortly after, Dr. Montgomery is visited by John Howard from a local newspaper. Montgomery permits him a short interview with David under the condition that he does not try and spin a tabloid story out of David. Howard agrees and conducts his interview before leaving the hospital.

Act Two

Although Howard has remained true to his word and kept the story straight in his newspaper, others have taken his story and twisted its meaning. The hospital find themselves suddenly flooded with journalists wanting to speak to David, and protestors concerned about the quality of life someone confined to a bubble can have. Dr. Montgomery holds a press conference to abate the public which he handles well, insisting that earlier tests have shown that a person can still lead a fulfilled life in a confined space. He also refers to an earlier experiment with confined retarded twins who were able to leave their bubble after a cure for their condition was found. He assures them that a cure for SCID is being worked on and will hopefully soon be ready. Soon afterwards he is approached by a PR executive from NASA. (The character is entitled Ted DeVita in tribute to another sufferer of SCID) Mr. DeVita offers Dr. Montgomery the use of a $50,000 spacesuit with an air purification unit which would allow David to leave the bubble and explore the world for the first time, even if only for a brief period. David puts on the suit but feels embarrassed. He is finally coerced out of the bubble by Dr. Malone and the two walk outside the hospital. Practically as soon as they leave they are mobbed by journalists wanting to talk to David. Dr. Malone manages to fend the off and they go to a local park. However, as soon as they arrive David is taunted by the other children making him miserable. When they return to the hospital David begins lashing out violently inside the bubble, angry at how he has been treated, both by the hospital and all that he knows of the outside world. The scene shifts forward again, this time by a month or two. Carol-Ann is visiting David when Dr. Montgomery informs her there has been a breakthrough in the treatment of SCID. He informs her of a new bone-marrow transplant which could lead to David’s SCID being rendered obsolete. He takes her aside and also tells her that the government are threatening to pull the funding on the bubble project due to David no longer being a tabloid sensation. David’s unaffected sister Katherine (an unseen character) donates the necessary bone marrow and the operation is performed. David begins leading a new life outside the bubble and Carol-Ann and Dr. Malone realise that David knows next to nothing about the world outside the bubble and that he still has a lot to learn before he can learn a normal life. At this point David begins coughing and vomiting badly. Carol-Ann and Dr. Malone panic and David dies suddenly. This is not a true reflection of David’s death which involved falling into a coma for two weeks. In the play it is obvious that there has been some kind of complication with the operation that causes his death, although it is not explained. In real life, the bone marrow contained the dominant Epstein-Barr virus which caused David to experience a vast amount of tumours. Eaves explained his decision to remove the reference to the virus as “we’d already introduced so many medical ideas to the audience. To add another one at the last minute would probably be testing them a bit too far. Also, the reason we removed the coma section was because we wanted to death to come as quite a shock to the audience who had just begun thinking the story might have a happy ending.” There is then an exact repetition of the opening funeral scene, only this time it is David Vetter IV being buried.

Original Cast

Marco Marino - David Vetter, Funeral Attendee

Simon Robson - Dr. Thompson, Various Journalists, Funeral Attendee, Ted DeVita, Child

George Banks - John Howard, Assorted Journalists, Funeral Attendee, Child

Laurie Eaves - Dr. Murphy Malone, Funeral Attendee

Leo McKenzie-Caunt - Dr. John Montgomery, Funeral Attendee

Luke Horne - Priest, Clive Marjory, Various Journalists

Jess Lake (Replacing Kristina Weston) - Carol Ann Vetter, Assorted Journalists

Original Technical Personnel

Marco Marino - Video elements, Writing Contributions

Simon Robson - Set/Prop designs, Director, Writing Contributions

George Banks - Soundtrack, Writing Contributions

Laurie Eaves - Script, Lighting Design

Christie O'Leary - Lighting Operator

Jamie Houston - Sound Operator